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M AY 2 0 1 8<br />
J’AIME<br />
Y O U R L O C A L L U X U R Y L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E<br />
Spring style solutions<br />
for home and garden<br />
WIN<br />
TICKETS TO<br />
BIRMINGHAM’S<br />
SUMMER BBC<br />
GOOD FOOD<br />
SHOW<br />
Work from home:<br />
creating a stylish<br />
office space<br />
POTTERY PERFECTION<br />
FROM A LICHFIELD<br />
CERAMIC DESIGNER
Welcome to J’AIME<br />
The sun is shining at J’AIME HQ, and<br />
we’re getting into the summer spirit with a<br />
feast of fantastic features to get you ready<br />
for the season ahead. Whether is dining<br />
inspiration, a wardrobe update or ideas to<br />
revamp your home and garden, J’AIME has<br />
it covered.<br />
This month we chat to a duo of Alrewas<br />
entrepreneurs whose innovative simulator<br />
technology is a game-changer for<br />
motorsports gaming enthusiasts - and you<br />
could win a gaming experience at their<br />
showroom.<br />
We also catch up with talented Lichfield<br />
potter Carla Murdoch who, when she’s not<br />
teaching students at Lichfield college, creates<br />
contemporary crafts from her home studio.<br />
We’ve headed off the beaten path this month<br />
to discover a gem of a dining destination<br />
pub on the edge of the Peak District - it’s<br />
worth the trip, we promise! Elsewhere, as<br />
BBc Good Food Show and Gardeners’<br />
World Live get set to return to the NEC this<br />
summer, we’ve got five pairs of tickets up<br />
for grabs. Catch the likes of Michel Roux Jr,<br />
Tom Kerridge and Alan Titchmarsh over<br />
four packed days - it’s the perfect day out for<br />
foodies and garden enthusiasts alike.<br />
Our wine expert showcases some Italian<br />
whites which may have you putting down the<br />
pinot grigio and reaching for something new,<br />
and we’ve also got recipe and cocktail ideas<br />
for you to try at home.<br />
Congratulations are in order for our latest<br />
winner; Malcolm Cureton of Lichfield<br />
scooped a year of music lessons courtesy of<br />
Partridge Brothers Music Centre at Heart of<br />
the Country, Swinfen.<br />
EDITOR: AMY NORBURY<br />
EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
ADVERTISING: JAN ASHLEY<br />
ADVERTISING@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
07388 335 931<br />
DESIGN: DESIGN@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
CONTRIBUTORS: MARTIN PLOWMAN,<br />
HARRIET LOVATT, EMMA STONE, LISA PIDDINGTON,<br />
JILL HARTLEY, MICHAEL BALLANCE<br />
J’AIME IS PUBLISHED BY ASHBURY<br />
PUBLICATIONS LIMITED AND PRINTED<br />
BY KEP LIMITED, TAMWORTH.<br />
Check us out online at:<br />
WWW.JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
Find us on<br />
/JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />
@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />
@JAIMEMAGAZINE<br />
3
CONTENTS<br />
InsideJ’aime this month...<br />
6 Carla Murdoch - Creative ceramics from a<br />
Lichfield designer-maker<br />
12 Property - Property of the month<br />
14 Interiors - Home office style<br />
18 Interiors - Go green<br />
22 Gardens - Creating an outdoor sanctuary<br />
26 Competition - Win tickets to the summer BBC Good<br />
Food Show and Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC<br />
30 Food and drink - Reviewing The<br />
Duncombe Arms<br />
32 Food and drink - A mouth-watering recipe to try<br />
at home<br />
34 Food and drink - Cocktail of the month from<br />
Le Rêve<br />
36 Food and drink - Trying a different Italian white<br />
40 Food and drink - Cafe International brings<br />
street food galore to Lichfield<br />
44 Travel - A Dalmatian discovery<br />
48 Competition - Win a motorsport gaming<br />
experience with Alrewas-based Symdeck<br />
52 What’s On - Our pick of events around our<br />
area this month<br />
56 What’s On - The hottest tickets around<br />
Birmingham<br />
58 Fashion - Denim revisited<br />
60 Fashion - Nero e Bianco put their best foot<br />
forward<br />
63 Beauty - Skincare saviours from Harvey<br />
Nichols Birmingham<br />
64 In the news - Say ‘I do’ to dance ; and a<br />
charity donation<br />
65 Motors - Tamworth racing driver Martin<br />
Plowman looks at an innovative charity<br />
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FEATURE<br />
Pottery perfection<br />
LICHFIELD DESIGNER-MAKER CARLA MURDOCH’S PASSION FOR POTTERY SEES HER CREATE<br />
STYLISH, CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS - AS WELL AS SHARE HER SKILLS WITH OTHERS.<br />
AMY NORBURY DISCOVERS MORE<br />
CONTEMPORARY TABLEWARE IS<br />
CARLA’S SPECIAITY<br />
The instant Carla Murdoch got her hands on her<br />
first lump of clay, she was smitten. As a teenager<br />
studying A Levels in her native Sheffield, Carla took<br />
the bold decision to ditch traditional academics in<br />
favour of more creative pursuits. And that step has<br />
paid off in spades.<br />
Today, Carla is passing on her love of all things<br />
ceramics to groups of students, teaching pottery and<br />
sculpture at South Staffordshire College’s Lichfield<br />
campus. And when she’s not in the classroom, Carla<br />
can be found creating her own brand of stylish,<br />
contemporary ceramics from her studio at the<br />
Burntwood home she shares with her partner Pete,<br />
an interior designer, house bunny Florence and ducks<br />
Henrietta and Ferdinand.<br />
The garage workshop houses Carla’s precious kiln,<br />
where her creations are transformed from raw clay<br />
into beautifully fired and glazed pieces. Shelves are<br />
adorned with pottery in each stage of the making<br />
process; clay drying out ready for the kiln, items<br />
which have gone through the first - or biscuit - firing<br />
and, finally, all glazed and finished.<br />
A sunny conservatory provides a second workspace,<br />
which is home to Carla’s potters wheel and which<br />
also showcases a variety of her makes. Something of<br />
a pottery magpie, Carla also collects other potters’<br />
work, proudly displaying her own pieces alongside<br />
works from her favourite makers.<br />
“I’ve got boxes of it dotted around the house too,”<br />
laughs Carla, who’s a member of the Midlands<br />
Potters’ Association. “There’s a lot going on at the<br />
moment.”<br />
A whirlwind of creative flair, Carla always knew she<br />
was destined for an artistic career, although her first<br />
foray was not pottery, but graphics.<br />
“I was studying graphics, psychology and biology<br />
at sixth form - a real random mix - and I just didn’t<br />
enjoy it,” the 30-year-old explains.<br />
“I needed to be doing something completely creative;<br />
as much as I love science, and psychology interests<br />
6
me, I just can’t apply it academically.”<br />
So two weeks before she was due to return to sixth<br />
form, Carla headed down to her local college to<br />
see what was on offer. She signed up for a graphics<br />
course, which also included tasters of other<br />
disciplines, including fashion, textiles, woodwork<br />
and - fatefully - pottery.<br />
“About eight weeks into the course we did pottery;<br />
I touched it and that was it, I loved it,” says Carla.<br />
“My tutor was fabulous; she was absolutely<br />
crackers - most potters tend to be a bit loopy. She<br />
encouraged me to apply for a university course,<br />
which is something I’d never considered.”<br />
Carla’s undeniable talent saw her beat off some<br />
500 applicants to land one of just 12 places on a<br />
glass and ceramics degree course at the University<br />
of Sunderland.<br />
“It was meant to be,” says Carla. “I do believe in<br />
fate; I don’t tend to plan too much, I prefer to let<br />
things happen.”<br />
By the time her course had finished, Carla was<br />
hooked. She bought a kiln and set up a small studio<br />
at her parents’ home in Sheffield, making “lots of<br />
porcelain bits and pieces” and connecting with other<br />
local makers.<br />
But six years ago, after a stint travelling, Carla made<br />
the move from Sheffield to Burntwood to be with<br />
Pete and took on an admin job which zapped her of<br />
all her creativity.<br />
CARLA’S STUDIO SPACE<br />
“I just wasn’t making,” says Carla. “Other than for<br />
friends’ birthdays and Christmas decorations, I had<br />
no inspiration and I couldn’t get myself back into it.”<br />
As an attempt to get the creative juices flowing, Carla<br />
signed up to an evening course at Lichfield college -<br />
the very same course she now teaches.<br />
But her making block didn’t seem to shift and, during<br />
a period where she had completely had enough,<br />
Carla sold her potters wheel. But that niggly feeling<br />
that pottery was her true calling wouldn’t leave. On a<br />
trip to Scandinavia with Pete, Carla was enamoured<br />
by the abundance of stylish ceramics and returned<br />
home with renewed enthusiasm.<br />
She decided to sign back up to the college course<br />
but was told it would be starting late because they<br />
didn’t have a tutor available. It was Carla’s lightbulb<br />
moment.<br />
“I thought that maybe I could apply for the teaching<br />
role,” she says. “When I went online I discovered I<br />
didn’t have a qualification they were asking for but<br />
there was also a technician role so I went for that. I<br />
also asked to apply for the teaching role anyway but<br />
never received the application form.<br />
“I got an interview straight away and they asked<br />
me why I hadn’t applied for the teaching role and<br />
wanted to interview me for it too. I ended up getting<br />
both jobs.”<br />
While her teaching and technician jobs make up<br />
a full-time role during term time, Carla has found<br />
herself fully reinvigorated creatively.<br />
“Since then I’ve got back into it, and now I can’t<br />
stop,” says Carla. “I’ve had to go back and re-teach<br />
myself certain aspects like learning the wheel again.<br />
I wasn’t great on it anyway because I didn’t focus on<br />
7
TOOLS OF THE TRADE<br />
it at uni, I did more slip-casting, so I’ve had to selfteach<br />
so I can then teach my students.<br />
“I have all kinds of people coming through my<br />
classes; they’re aged from 20 to 95! And everyone<br />
has a different reason for being there. I’ve got people<br />
who’ve been coming for 30-plus years so it’s just part<br />
of their everyday routine, and there’s a group of<br />
ladies who come along on a Wednesday afternoon<br />
really to socialise. They make fabulous things and<br />
they’ve got such good skills, but since they’re all<br />
retired it’s more about keeping the brain switched on<br />
and keeping in touch with the community.<br />
“My Wednesday classes don’t involve much teaching;<br />
I’m more of a facilitator and the students come in to<br />
use the space and just get on with what they want to<br />
do. They may ask me a few technical questions but<br />
they really know what they’re doing.<br />
“A lot of people have joined up to class because a<br />
few other colleges locally have stopped doing pottery<br />
classes, which is a huge shame. We’re now one of the<br />
few local colleges which offer pottery. I have 80 to 90<br />
students a week, so it’s a task keeping track of where<br />
everyone is and what everyone’s doing.<br />
“It’s also a very physical job. You’re carrying bags<br />
of clay and buckets of clay around, and then there’s<br />
the wedging (which is working the clay to remove air<br />
pockets before you can use it) and working on the<br />
wheel - it’s all great exercise.”<br />
Carla has also seen a spike in students in the wake of<br />
popular BBC show The Great Pottery Throwdown.<br />
Hosted by Sara Cox and with master<br />
potters Kate Malone and Keith Brymer<br />
Jones as judges, the show was filmed at<br />
Stoke-on-Trent’s Middleport Pottery<br />
and became a surprise hit.<br />
“The only thing that annoys me about<br />
the Throwdown is that it gives people<br />
such an unrealistic expectation of what<br />
can be achieved in a two-and-a-half<br />
hour class,” says Carla, who confesses<br />
she never watched the show herself.<br />
“You see people on the show rolling out<br />
their pieces, which might only take ten<br />
minutes, but then they have to leave<br />
them to dry for three hours before they<br />
come back to work on them for another<br />
two or so hours.<br />
“In class, people have to remember<br />
that they won’t be coming back until<br />
next week so I have to tailor people’s<br />
expectations of what they can actually<br />
do within our class timeframe.”<br />
Patience, says Carla, is the key to<br />
learning pottery skills. Her courses focus on the<br />
simpler process of hand-building to start, before<br />
students are let loose on the wheel to hone their<br />
throwing skills.<br />
“At least with the hand-building, people have<br />
something tangible to take home,” says Carla.<br />
“When they’re on the wheel, it can all go wrong in<br />
seconds. With hand-building you have much more<br />
control.<br />
“And people wonder why they don’t ‘get’ the wheel<br />
straight away; throwing is an incredibly difficult skill<br />
and it takes a lot of time and practice to get it right.”<br />
8
CARLA - WITH THE HELP OF BUNNY<br />
FLORENCE -SHOWCASES A RANGE OF<br />
HER DESIGNS<br />
Carla’s wheel is her pride and joy, and her current<br />
creations focus on throwing, rather than handbuilding.<br />
“I’m mainly wheel-based at the moment; it’s a skill I<br />
want to work on, and I want to be able to throw big,”<br />
says Carla. “I’ve been building up my size, so I’m at<br />
around five to six pounds of clay on the wheel at the<br />
moment, and it’s very hard to work that much clay.<br />
“On the wheel I like to make the functional stuff like<br />
the tableware. I love food; I live to eat and I like to<br />
incorporate the two with some nice food in a nice<br />
bowl - it makes your food taste better!<br />
“Plates are so hard though, that’s the<br />
one thing I’m still trying to master and I<br />
won’t let it defeat me! There’s one potter I<br />
follow on Instagram who has been doing<br />
it for three or four years and is only just<br />
starting to sell plates.<br />
“They take up so much space in the kiln;<br />
they take up a whole shelf so you can’t<br />
get anything else dotted around them.<br />
And I go up to quite a high temperature<br />
so if your base isn’t quite right you get a<br />
wobbly plate which warps, or sometimes<br />
they even just tear in the middle.<br />
“They crack when they’re drying before<br />
you’ve even put them in the kiln, they<br />
crack in the biscuit firing and then they<br />
can crack in the final firing. So until the<br />
final piece comes out I never get too<br />
excited!”<br />
As well as being a rather therapeutic pursuit,<br />
pottery can be highly emotive, explains<br />
Carla.<br />
“Potters often meditate before they get on<br />
the wheel, especially in Asia,” she says. “I<br />
don’t meditate myself but sometimes when<br />
I’ve been at work under niggly bright lights<br />
all day I get headaches, or if I’m not feeling<br />
100 per cent I just can’t be on the wheel. It<br />
just doesn’t happen. If I’m not in the first<br />
frame of mind or in a positive mood it’s<br />
a disaster. So that’s when I do my coiling<br />
instead, which I can do no problem. But<br />
when I’m in a good frame of mind I can’t<br />
do coiling, I need to be on the wheel, so it’s<br />
a good balance.”<br />
Pottery has helped Carla to develop a thick<br />
skin and a resilience when it comes to things<br />
not going to plan.<br />
“There’s so much failure,” she laughs. “I’m<br />
at a point that I can put a firing on and if it<br />
goes wrong and doesn’t come out properly<br />
it doesn’t matter. Things might break in the kiln, or<br />
when you glaze things if you haven’t tested the glazes<br />
properly they might be a disaster.<br />
“It’s all a process. If it does work you learn things<br />
from it, and if it doesn’t work again you learn things<br />
from it, perhaps to try a different temperature or to<br />
cool it down slower. It is just one big learning curve,<br />
and even as a teacher and professional maker I’m still<br />
always learning.”<br />
9
The latest project has involved testing different glazes<br />
which, Carla says, appeals to her scientific side.<br />
“I’ve got one base glaze which is very reliable and<br />
you add a few different oxides to it and it comes out<br />
nicely. But if you get a weight slightly wrong it will<br />
come out differently, or if you dip the brush in the<br />
wrong oxide it will change that glaze,” she explains.<br />
“And glazes turn out completely differently on<br />
different clays too.<br />
“I just did some testing and I’ve managed to get<br />
pinks and purples, which I don’t want - I was hoping<br />
for turquoise! I used cobalts and coppers in there,<br />
so the green and the blue together should’ve made<br />
a really nice turquoise but because I’ve used a<br />
dolomite-based glaze, cobalt goes purple or pink in<br />
it. So I’m back to square one.<br />
“I do my glaze testing on a very small scale to start<br />
with so if it goes wrong I’m not wasting too much,<br />
then if it works I do it on a bigger scale. It’s all a<br />
science, which I really love. I get to be a scientist and<br />
be creative; the two come together.”<br />
Carla is currently making stock for her next craft fair,<br />
the inaugural Hepworth Wakefield Contemporary<br />
Ceramics Fair in her native Yorkshire which runs<br />
from <strong>May</strong> 5 to 6. And closer to home, she will be<br />
running a pop-up shop at Bore Street Bakery on July<br />
7 with fellow Lichfield designer-maker Katie Figiel<br />
of Copper and Solder to coincide with the Lichfield<br />
Festival.<br />
And you may have already spotted some of Carla’s<br />
wares around the city; she was commissioned by<br />
coffee shop Melbourne in Lichfield to create a range<br />
of 12oz coffee cups.<br />
“It was a good thing for me because I’ve never<br />
thrown with such a requirement; I usually just get<br />
on the wheel and see where it takes me and what<br />
I can do,” explains Carla. “But this made me be<br />
able to repetitive throw and get a specific size from<br />
something which shrinks as it dries,<br />
shrinks in the first firing and shrinks in<br />
the glaze firing.<br />
“It was a total challenge - but in a good<br />
way. And it’s nice to see the people of<br />
Lichfield drinking from the cups I’ve<br />
made.”<br />
Bore Street Bakery already use some of<br />
Carla’s pieces to showcase their baked<br />
goodies, and she is currently working with<br />
Lichfield chef Liam Dillon to potentially<br />
provide items for The Boat Inn.<br />
“It’s so lovely to be a part of the Lichfield<br />
community. There’s a real creative,<br />
foodie hub in the city now, which is really<br />
exciting.”<br />
For more details visit<br />
Carla’s website at www.<br />
carlamurdochceramics.co.uk or<br />
find Carla Murdoch Ceramics on<br />
Instagram.<br />
10
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PROPERTY<br />
Property of the Month<br />
WE TAKE A SNEAKY PEEK AT SOME OF THE HOTTEST PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET IN<br />
THE AREA EACH MONTH. THIS MONTH’S SELECTION IS A COUNTRYSIDE HOME WHERE<br />
PERIOD FEATURES MEET CONTEMPORARY STYLE<br />
Park Cottage, Drayton Lane, Drayton Bassett: £1,450,000<br />
On the market with Hunters: 0121 355 0555<br />
THE AGENT SAYS: Park Cottage occupies a truly<br />
delightful location in a mature parkland setting adjacent to<br />
Drayton Park Golf Club and is approached from Drayton<br />
Lane via a long private driveway situated to the right of the<br />
church near to Heathley Lane.<br />
Originally a game keeper’s cottage and forming part of<br />
the Peel Estate the property has, in recent years, undergone<br />
an extensive remodelling programme with sympathetic<br />
additions. Very impressive in appearance with most attractive<br />
and distinctive elevations, the property enjoys a delightful<br />
mature woodland setting standing in landscaped grounds<br />
with sweeping gravel driveway and electric gated entrance.<br />
Refurbished to an exceptionally high specification, the<br />
interior successfully blends modern luxury alongside many<br />
original features boasting a wealth of unique and thoughtfully<br />
designed characteristics exceeding expectations in a property<br />
of this period.<br />
The kitchen oozes contemporary style, with an extensive<br />
range of units with Corian work surfaces and integrated<br />
Siemens appliances, underfloor heating and bi-fold doors<br />
opening onto the terrace.<br />
With several reception rooms, six bedrooms and five ensuites,<br />
plus a master bathroom, set over three floors, there is<br />
ample space for family life.<br />
Outside, an elevated granite paved patio and large<br />
entertaining area with covered outdoor kitchen provides the<br />
ideal space for entertaining.<br />
W E L O V E : THE WONDERFUL BLEND<br />
OF CONTEMPORARY AND<br />
PERIOD STYLE<br />
12
INTERIORS<br />
HOUSE BY JOHN LEWIS LEANING DESK,<br />
£199. WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM<br />
Work<br />
it out<br />
WITH more and more people working from home as<br />
self-employment and flexible working remains on the<br />
rise, the demand for a carefully designed office space<br />
has never been higher. But forget boring desks in plain<br />
box rooms; today’s home offices are more homely and<br />
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functionality.<br />
The centrepiece to any good home office is, of course,<br />
the desk. With ergonomically designed desks available<br />
to fit even the smallest workspace, you can be sure of a<br />
practical, stylish and comfortable working environment.<br />
Add a comfy, supportive chair and plenty of clever<br />
storage solutions to ensure everything is organised and<br />
accessible.<br />
A room that’s appropriately lit has a way of reducing<br />
stress so it’s essential that your office space has good<br />
lighting. Make good use of desk or task lighting to<br />
complement your main light, or to add a boost to the<br />
natural light in your space without being too bright or<br />
overpowering.<br />
£72<br />
£60<br />
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TYPE 75 MINI DESK LAMP,<br />
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MASTER EDWARD WALL<br />
CLOCK, NEWGATE.<br />
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BRASS PENCIL HOLDER,<br />
FERM LIVING AT AMARA.<br />
WWW.AMARA.COM<br />
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LARGE CONCRETE DESKTOP<br />
PLANTER, FARLO.IO.<br />
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14
£39.99<br />
PERSONALISED CUBIST DESK DISPLAY,<br />
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NEWBURY LEATHER CARVER<br />
CHAIR, PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,<br />
BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.<br />
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BIGSO MAGNUS GREY DESKTOP<br />
DRAWER, PAPERCHASE.<br />
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£5<br />
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GEORGE HOME HOUSE<br />
BLOCK CALENDAR, ASDA.<br />
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MARBLE DESK CLOCK,<br />
OLIVER BONAS.<br />
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£55<br />
CULT DESIGN MODA VELVET<br />
CHAIR, CULT FURNITURE.<br />
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TOM DIXON CUBE<br />
STAPLER,<br />
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HAIRPIN DESK, £180, FARLO.IO.<br />
WWW.FARLO.IO<br />
RIGBY AND MAC YELLOW<br />
FLOOR LAMP, £145, FARLO.IO.<br />
WWW.FARLO.IO
CLARION DESK, £1,775, CHAPLINS<br />
FURNITURE. WWW.CHAPLINS.CO.UK<br />
COPPER TRELLIS WALL GRID, £42.30,<br />
RED CANDY. WWW.REDCANDY.CO.UK<br />
J’AIME<br />
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BLOOMINGVILLE BILLIE RETRO TABLE<br />
LAMP, £117.50, BEAUMONDE.<br />
WWW.BEAUMONDE.CO.UK
I N T E R I O R S<br />
Greener<br />
pastures<br />
ALREADY this year has been awash with a rich array<br />
of bold colours to transform your interior space. But as<br />
spring arrives with full force and our love affair with all<br />
things botanical and tropical reaches its peak, it’s green<br />
which really stands out as the colour to incorporate for<br />
<strong>2018</strong>.<br />
From the vibrant jewel tones of emerald and jade to<br />
refreshing sage and mint, as well as dark and moody<br />
forest, this summer, it’s all about going green. When<br />
it comes to pattern, we will see a focus on prints with<br />
dark, jungle-esque backgrounds, and leaf prints in<br />
their true, deep green colours.<br />
A palette of different greens works harmoniously to<br />
create a dynamic colour scheme, so don’t be afraid<br />
to mix and match your hues. Go soft and soothing<br />
on walls and fabrics, and add dramatic vibrance with<br />
accessories.<br />
Green upholstery is also set to become a key trend,<br />
particularly plush velvet in eye-catching shades of<br />
forest green, pine and emerald, so if you want to make<br />
a statement, opt for a standout furniture piece in a<br />
bold hue - a perfect pop against a backdrop of crisp,<br />
fresh whites.<br />
BETTY ARMCHAIR IN OLIVE PURE COTTON<br />
MATT VELVET, £590, WWW.SOFA.COM<br />
BRICK LANE ALARM CLOCK, NEWGATE.<br />
WWW.NEWGATECLOCKS.COM<br />
£13.50<br />
£75<br />
VINTAGE STYLE JUG, THE<br />
CONTEMPORARY HOME.<br />
WWW.TCH.NET<br />
A BY AMARA WIDE BASE ROPE<br />
LANTERN, WWW.AMARA.COM<br />
£22<br />
18
倀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀<br />
䤀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀<br />
一 攀 眀 ☀ 嘀 椀 渀 琀 愀 最 攀 䘀 甀 爀 渀 椀 琀 甀 爀 攀 昀 漀 爀 䠀 漀 洀 攀 猀 Ⰰ 䈀 愀 爀 猀 ☀ 刀 攀 猀 琀 愀 甀 爀 愀 渀 琀 猀<br />
嘀 椀 猀 椀 琀 漀 甀 爀 猀 栀 漀 眀 爀 漀 漀 洀 椀 渀 䈀 甀 爀 渀 琀 眀 漀 漀 搀 ℀ 圀 攀 ᤠ 爀 攀 漀 瀀 攀 渀 䴀 漀 渀 搀 愀 礀 琀 漀 匀 愀 琀 甀 爀 搀 愀 礀<br />
唀 渀 椀 琀 㘀 Ⰰ 刀 椀 渀 最 刀 漀 愀 搀 Ⰰ 娀 漀 渀 攀 ㈀Ⰰ 䈀 甀 爀 渀 琀 眀 漀 漀 搀 䈀 甀 猀 椀 渀 攀 猀 猀 倀 愀 爀 欀 Ⰰ 䈀 甀 爀 渀 琀 眀 漀 漀 搀 Ⰰ 圀 匀 㜀 アパート 䨀 儀<br />
眀 眀 眀 ⸀ 瀀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 椀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀 簀 㔀 㐀 アパート アパート 㜀 㔀 㠀 㜀 ㈀ 簀 猀 愀 氀 攀 猀 䀀 瀀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 椀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 ⸀ 挀 漀 洀<br />
倀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 䤀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 猀 椀 猀 愀 琀 爀 愀 搀 椀 渀 最 渀 愀 洀 攀 漀 昀 倀 攀 瀀 瀀 攀 爀 洀 椀 氀 氀 䄀 渀 琀 椀 焀 甀 攀 猀 䰀 琀 搀 ⸀<br />
⨀ 吀 攀 爀 洀 猀 ☀ 挀 漀 渀 搀 椀 琀 椀 漀 渀 猀 愀 瀀 瀀 氀 礀 ⸀
£POA<br />
£110<br />
ORIEL CHAIR, RUME. WWW.RUME.CO.UK<br />
METZ DINING CHAIR, PEPPERMILL<br />
INTERIORS, BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.<br />
WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM<br />
£40<br />
A BY AMARA ARCADE<br />
CARNIVAL TRINKET BOX,<br />
WWW.AMARA.COM<br />
AULA NESTING COFFEE TABLE,<br />
WWW.MADE.COM<br />
£399<br />
£20<br />
JOASH SET OF FOUR<br />
GRID TUMBLERS,<br />
WWW.MADE.COM<br />
ALEXANDER AND JAMES ABRAHAM JUNIOR<br />
SOFA, COOKES FURNITURE, BIRMINGHAM.<br />
WWW.COOKESFURNITURE.CO.UK
£POA<br />
BOTANICAL LEAVES 1 MODERN<br />
WALL ART PRINT, MODE PRINTS.<br />
WWW.MODEPRINTS.COM<br />
£599<br />
ELLEN ARMCHAIR,<br />
ESSENTIAL HOME.<br />
WWW.ESSENTIALHOME.EU<br />
£4.50<br />
£16<br />
1882 LTD JENNY MUG,<br />
AMARA. WWW.AMARA.COM<br />
HOWARDIAN KIRKHAM PEACH THROW,<br />
£220, ADRIANA HOMEWARES.<br />
WWW.ADRIANAHOMEWARES.COM<br />
£18<br />
MODENA COLOUR BLOCK<br />
FRAME, OLIVER BONAS.<br />
WWW.OLIVERBONAS.COM<br />
CASSEY CABINET,<br />
WWW.MADE.COM<br />
CONCRETE BASIN,£1,164, RIPPLES BATHROOMS<br />
AT COOKES FURNITURE, BIRMINGHAM.<br />
WWW.COOKESFURNITURE.CO.UK<br />
FRENCH CONNECTION ZINC CUDDLER SOFA<br />
IN LUXE VELVET FOREST GREEN, £849, DFS.<br />
WWW.DFS.CO.UK
G A R D E N<br />
Create<br />
a great<br />
outdoors<br />
AS we head into the warmer months, it’s great to<br />
be able to spend more and more time enjoying our<br />
gardens, as outdoor spaces become an extension of<br />
our homes.<br />
Despite the unpredictable British weather, the nation<br />
is embracing the Mediterranean lifestyle, with outdoor<br />
entertaining and kitchen areas a key trend for <strong>2018</strong>.<br />
Create a dedicated area with comfy furniture and<br />
mood lighting, complete with a sunken fire pit,<br />
barbecue or pizza oven.<br />
While well-stocked beds and borders are always<br />
a welcome sight, if you want to incorporate extra<br />
planting into you terrace or patio area then stylish<br />
planters are the way to go. Choose styles which<br />
complement the theme of your garden, or add a spot<br />
of interest with quirky options. Display stands are<br />
another great way to showcase some of your favourite<br />
plants.<br />
SKARGAARDEN BONAN LOUNGE<br />
SOFA, £3,999, HOUSEOLOGY.<br />
WWW.HOUSEOLOGY.COM<br />
£6<br />
GARDEN TRADING FINSBURY STEEL<br />
WALL LIGHT, BLACK BY DESIGN.<br />
WWW.BLACK-BY-DESIGN.CO.UK<br />
HOUSE DOCTOR HANGING<br />
WOVEN PLANTER, AMARA.<br />
WWW.AMARA.COM<br />
GARDEN TRADING ALDSWORTH<br />
WOODEN PLANT STAND,<br />
WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM<br />
£90<br />
£50<br />
NATURAL INSECT HOUSE,<br />
GEORGE HOME AT ASDA.<br />
WWW.ASDA.COM<br />
£85<br />
22
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0121 308 5094<br />
www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk<br />
HERITAGE GLASS ROOMS<br />
A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS OFFERING BESPOKE ORANGERIES<br />
UPVC - HARDWOOD TIMBER - ALUMINIUM<br />
orangeries<br />
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Mitc<br />
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Come and see our showroom at: Mitchells, Weeford Road, Sutton Coldfield B75 6NA<br />
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THE NEW NAME IN HIGH QUALITY<br />
OUTDOOR STEEL PRODUCTS<br />
A family run business offering besp<br />
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uPVC Hardwood Timber Alum<br />
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gilbertowoodfiredovens.com<br />
A family run business offering bespoke<br />
orangeries<br />
uPVC Hardwood Timber Aluminium<br />
Come and see our show room at<br />
Heritage Glass Rooms<br />
Mitchells<br />
Weeford Road<br />
Sutton Coldfield<br />
B75 6NA<br />
0121 308 5094<br />
www.heritageglassroomsltd.co.uk<br />
Heritage Glas<br />
Mitch<br />
Weeford<br />
Come and see Sutton our sC<br />
B75<br />
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www.heritage Weeford<br />
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Mitch 0121<br />
www.heritage Weeford<br />
Sutton C<br />
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www.heritage<br />
Mitc<br />
Weefo<br />
Sutton<br />
B7<br />
Weefo<br />
Sutton<br />
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Sutton<br />
B7<br />
Heritage Gl<br />
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STAINLESS STEEL WOOD FIRED OVENS - GAZEBOS - HOT TUB<br />
ENCLOSURE - FIRE PITS AND BRAZIERS - GRILLES - OUTDOOR BAR<br />
15% discount for J’AIME readers! Use code ‘jaimespring’ at checkout<br />
Skillcraft Products ltd, Unit C, Atlas Trading Estate, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 8TJ<br />
Email: sales@skillcraftproducts.com - Tel: 01902 507277 - Open 8am - 8pm
NEON YELLOW PLANT POT,<br />
NOT-ANOTHER-BILL.<br />
WWW.NOTANOTHERBILL.COM<br />
£360<br />
£16<br />
MUSHROOM ORNAMENT,<br />
FOUR OAKS RECLAMATION.<br />
WWW.FOUROAKSRECLAMATION.COM<br />
£245<br />
£40<br />
£49 LARGE VINTAGE PLANTER,<br />
PEPPERMILL INTERIORS,<br />
BURNTWOOD BUSINESS PARK.<br />
WWW.PEPPERMILLINTERIORS.COM<br />
BEEPOT BEE HOUSE AND GARDEN<br />
PLANTER, GREEN AND BLUE.<br />
WWW.GREENANDBLUE.CO.UK<br />
ELEPHANT PLANTER, NEXT.<br />
WWW.NEXT.CO.UK<br />
VALENTINE DOUBLE<br />
RATTAN SUN LOUNGER,<br />
WWW.CUCKOOLAND.COM<br />
£1,799<br />
24<br />
POINT ARC GARDEN TABLE, £1,690,<br />
GO MODERN FURNITURE.<br />
WWW.GOMODERN.CO.UK<br />
GRANITE WATER FOUNTAIN, £695,<br />
BLACKBROOK INTERIORS.<br />
WWW.BLACKBROOK-INTERIORS.CO.UK
GARDEN TRADING HAMPSTEAD BENCH, £285,<br />
HOUSEOLOGY. WWW.HOUSEOLOGY.COM<br />
GARDEN TRADING DRINKS TROLLEY, £95,<br />
HOUSEOLOGY. WWW.HOUSEOLOGY.COM<br />
GARDEN TRADING OUTDOOR RATTAN<br />
HANGING NEST CHAIR, £325, LAGOON.<br />
WWW.VIVALAGOON.COM<br />
REMY BLUE ROUND DINING TABLE WITH<br />
SIX BLUE STACKING ARMCHAIRS, £1,999,<br />
BRIDGMAN. WWW.BRIDGMAN.CO.UK
CO M P E T I T I O N<br />
A jolly good show - or two<br />
THE BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW AND GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE RETURN TO BIRMINGHAM THIS SUMMER,<br />
FROM JUNE 14 TO 17, PRESENTING THE ULTIMATE DAY OUT FOR FOOD LOVERS AND GARDEN ENTHUSIASTS<br />
ALIKE - AND YOU COULD WIN ONE OF FIVE PAIRS OF TICKETS<br />
One of the summer’s most popular days out will return<br />
to Birmingham again this June, as BBC Gardeners’<br />
World Live and the BBC Good Food Show Summer<br />
take over the NEC for four days.<br />
With one ticket, visitors will gain entry to both<br />
spectacular events, which will attract more than 500<br />
exhibitors from the culinary and horticultural worlds<br />
from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 17.<br />
As well as the hundreds of stands, the shows also<br />
bring a star-studded line-up of some of the country’s<br />
favourite gardeners, chefs, experts and bakers.<br />
The line-up includes BBC Two’s Gardeners’ World<br />
lead presenter Monty Don plus co-presenters including<br />
Carol Klein, Adam Frost and, new to the show this<br />
year, Mark Lane and Arit Anderson. Fellow television<br />
personality Alan Titchmarsh also joins the team on<br />
Friday.<br />
At the BBC Good Food Show, firm favourites Mary<br />
Berry, James Martin, Tom Kerridge, Michel Roux Jr.<br />
and many more will be cooking up a storm on stage in<br />
the Big Kitchen, with plenty more chances to see them<br />
around the show.<br />
This year’s BBC Good Food Show sees the return of<br />
a selection of fantastic shopping areas including the<br />
Producers’ Village and the Drinks Emporium. New<br />
to the <strong>2018</strong> Show is the Eat Well zone, showcasing<br />
the best in vegan and vegetarian products, with expert<br />
advice and recipe ideas at the show’s Summer Kitchen<br />
stage.<br />
TOM KERRIDGE BRINGS HIS<br />
EXPERTISE TO THE BBC GOOD<br />
FOOD SHOW THIS SUMMER<br />
ALAN TITCHMARSH WILL BE<br />
RETURNING TO BBC GARDENERS’<br />
WORLD LIVE AT THE NEC<br />
Stepping outside, you’ll find inspirational Show<br />
Gardens and top shopping for your garden. The<br />
Made in Birmingham garden will feature a railway<br />
embankment plot with allotment, wildflower meadow<br />
and a working steam engine with Pullman Dining<br />
carriage.<br />
The Wyevale Garden Centres Solutions Garden<br />
will display stunning best practice ways to deal with<br />
common issues such as soil types or shady areas; the<br />
Tesco Every Little Helps Garden offers up ideas for<br />
small changes that can make big differences; and the<br />
Beautiful Borders will be full of small space ideas.<br />
Whether inside or outside, you’ll find the best in<br />
cooking and gardening inspiration with four days of<br />
free entry stages showcasing a full mix of plot to plate<br />
inspiration, live demos, Q&As, talks and plenty of<br />
advice. Ticket holders will gain entry to both shows,<br />
with children under five going free and discounts and<br />
free tickets available for groups of eight or more. For<br />
an extra special treat, the VIP and VIP Luxe packages<br />
26
BLACKBROOK INTERIORS<br />
We are a family run business home to an impressive range of furniture, interior furnishings,<br />
mirrors, accessories, antique and modern lighting and Chandeliers. We have huge<br />
courtyards full of interesting bronze statuary, fountains, stoneware and garden items.<br />
www.blackbrook-interiors.co.uk<br />
Open: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm. Sat: 9.30am - 5pm. Sun: 10am - 4pm<br />
Tel: 01543 481010 - Email: info@blackbrook-interiors.co.uk<br />
London Rd, Lichfield WS14 0PT<br />
blackbrook_interiors Blackbrook Interiors @BlackbrookWS14
include front row seats in the Big Kitchen super theatre<br />
and BBC Gardeners’ World Live Theatre, access to<br />
exclusive lounges and much more.<br />
Adam Frost, who will be giving his insight in the BBC<br />
Gardeners’ World Live Theatre on the Thursday and<br />
Sunday of the show, said: “This year’s show is really<br />
about helping gardeners make every space count. I’ll<br />
be live on stage, talking about the progress of my own<br />
garden and giving lots of design tips, as will many<br />
fellow Gardeners’ World presenters, including Monty<br />
Don and gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh too. It’s<br />
the perfect show for anyone looking for exciting garden<br />
inspiration to try at home - see you there!”<br />
Tom Kerridge, who will be cooking live in three Big<br />
Kitchen sessions, said: “There aren’t many events that<br />
compare to the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC<br />
Birmingham. With the size of the venue, the amount<br />
of delicious food and drink to sample and buy, and the<br />
expert demonstrations, it really is an amazing day out.”<br />
For more information and tickets to BBC Gardeners’<br />
World Live and the BBC Good Food Show, visit<br />
www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com or www.<br />
bbcgoodfoodshow.com<br />
The Competition<br />
J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH BBC GOOD<br />
FOOD SHOW AND BBC GARDENERS’<br />
WORLD LIVE AT THE NEC TO OFFER<br />
READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF<br />
FIVE PAIRS OF TICKETS TO THE SUMMER<br />
SPECTACULAR. VISITORS CAN ENJOY<br />
THE BEST IN COOKING AND GARDENING<br />
INSPIRATION FROM A PROGRAMME<br />
OF LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS, Q&AS,<br />
INFORMATIVE TALKS AND THE CHANCE<br />
TO CHAT TO MORE THAN 150 ARTISAN<br />
PRODUCERS AND GARDENING EXPERTS.<br />
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN,<br />
SIMPLY ANSWER THE FOLLOWING<br />
QUESTION: NAME ONE OF THE<br />
CELEBRITY EXPERTS WHO WILL BE<br />
APPEARING AT EITHER SHOW.<br />
Send your answer, along with your name,<br />
address and telephone number, by email to<br />
competitions@jaimemagazine.com with BBC Summer<br />
Shows competition as the email subject. Entries must be<br />
received by 5pm on Friday, <strong>May</strong> 25, and our winner will<br />
be notified by Wednesday, <strong>May</strong> 30. Tickets are valid on<br />
Thursday, Friday or Sunday; no Saturday admission. General<br />
admission tickets do not include a seat in the Big Kitchen.<br />
Big Kitchen seats are available to purchase on the day for<br />
£3, subject to availability. No cash alternative is available.<br />
Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
for further details.<br />
28
Broadway Kitchens<br />
A FAMILY BUSINESS OF THREE GENERATIONS<br />
A recent installation by Broadway Kitchens<br />
We design, manufacture and install bespoke traditional<br />
and modern kitchens to suit you and your lifestyle.<br />
0121 353 4999 - www.kitchensbybroadway.co.uk<br />
54-56 Thornhill Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, B74 3EN<br />
CALL to arrange a design consultation - VISIT our showroom - VIEW our kitchens online
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
A dining delight with country charm<br />
NAMED IN THE MICHELIN GUIDE AS ONE OF THE UK’S BEST DINING PUBS, THE DUNCOMBE ARMS<br />
SERVES UP MODERN BRITISH CLASSICS WITH FLAIR AND STYLE, AS AMY NORBURY DISCOVERED<br />
We’ve got no shortage of fantastic eateries<br />
around these parts. But sometimes it’s good<br />
to venture a little further afield - especially if<br />
the experience is as good as our evening at<br />
The Duncombe Arms proved to be.<br />
This rural gem has been lauded as one of<br />
the best dining pubs in the UK, featuring in<br />
the Michelin Guide and counting two AA<br />
Rosettes among its accolades, so we were<br />
delighted to be invited over to sample their<br />
offerings.<br />
On the edge of the Peak District, close to the<br />
market towns of Ashbourne and Uttoxeter,<br />
it’s actually much closer than you think. Even<br />
better, come November the pub is opening bedrooms,<br />
meaning you can make a trip of it; perhaps take in a<br />
walk around the picturesque countryside, or enjoy the<br />
thrills and spills of Alton Towers just three miles down<br />
the road.<br />
The pub’s homely atmosphere is evident from the<br />
second you set foot through the door; the greeting<br />
is warm, the fires blazing and the rustic-chic decor<br />
creates a stylish setting.<br />
Wonderfully stocked with everything from ales and fine<br />
wines to an impressive selection of gins and whiskeys,<br />
the bar is a convivial hub for diners enjoying pre and<br />
post-dinner drinks, as well as locals popping in for a<br />
refreshing beverage. My husband immediately spied<br />
the pub’s very own ale, the Duncombe Ale, which he<br />
had to sample, proclaiming it an excellent pint.<br />
The staff are smartly clad and exceptionally<br />
welcoming; service is truly top notch and we were well<br />
looked after from start to finish.<br />
And then there’s the food. The scents wafting through<br />
from the kitchen are immediately enticing and the<br />
plates which were making their way to hungry diners<br />
looked exceedingly tempting. We opted to forgo a<br />
pre-dinner drink and head straight to our table in the<br />
restaurant. We’d made an early evening booking so<br />
it was pleasantly quiet, but by 8pm the tables were<br />
getting full - rather impressive for a Monday.<br />
The talented kitchen team is led by Stuart Langdell,<br />
who honed his considerable skills at Simpsons and as<br />
a head chef for none other than Marco Pierre White<br />
and arrived at The Duncombe Arms from a stint at<br />
Michelin-starred The Cross at Kenilworth. Stuart’s<br />
passion, he explains to us when he pops out of the<br />
kitchen for a quick chat, is for getting the absolute<br />
best out of fantastic local and seasonal produce.<br />
His modern British menu isn’t about wild flavour<br />
combinations and eccentric techniques; rather, using<br />
care and skill to showcase the glorious produce at<br />
hand.<br />
And therein lay our first problem; what to choose from<br />
the small but perfectly formed menu? Each of the six<br />
30
starters and seven main dishes sounded so mouthwateringly<br />
good, it was a tough task to choose between<br />
them. But choose we did, deliberations helped along<br />
by a good glass of shiraz and a platter of beautifully<br />
baked warm focaccia and sourdough.<br />
My husband called dibs on the chicken liver parfait<br />
with burnt orange and toasted brioche, £8, while<br />
I was tempted by both the buttered asparagus with<br />
soft-poached egg and Hollandaise, £9, and the soused<br />
mackerel, beetroot and horseradish salad, £9. But it<br />
was the fried duck egg with stilton and aged balsamic,<br />
£7, which most intrigued me, so the decision was<br />
made.<br />
The parfait was simply sublime; rich in flavour yet<br />
silky and oh-so-light, it was a dish both of us could<br />
have eaten again and again. The sharp sweetness<br />
of the smooth burnt orange chutney added just<br />
enough acidity to cut through the parfait and create a<br />
beautifully balanced dish.<br />
Despite the parfait’s prowess, my duck egg and stilton<br />
combination certainly gave it a run for its money in the<br />
flavour stakes. The dish, explained Stuart, was a Marco<br />
favourite, and the unusual combination worked in<br />
harmony for an explosion on the taste buds. The egg<br />
was runny and luscious, and the stilton added a deep<br />
saltiness to complement the sweet brioche.<br />
For the main event my husband was tempted away<br />
from his usual steak by the braised beef featherblade<br />
with smoked onion, creamed potatoes, watercress and<br />
horseradish, £19, at the recommendation of The<br />
Duncombe Arms’ general manager James Oddy. And<br />
it proved to be a winning combination. The beef was<br />
melt-in-the-mouth tender, yielding under the slightest<br />
pressure from a fork, while the smoking process added<br />
a new depth to the sweet onion. The potatoes were<br />
the creamiest I’d ever tasted - a substantial helping of<br />
butter adding a luxurious touch. It was superb, and my<br />
husband declared he was just sorry it had to come to<br />
an end.<br />
I was equally impressed by my roast cod with lemon<br />
butter, capers, shrimp and crushed potatoes, £21. The<br />
fish was perfectly cooked, with the beautifully firm<br />
flakes just opaque. Acidity from the lemon and capers<br />
tempered the richness of the butter sauce, while the<br />
shrimps were little morsels of delight.<br />
It seemed a shame to move onto desserts; until the<br />
desserts arrived, that is. I love a good, old fashioned<br />
rice pud, and Stuart elevated this classic to something<br />
exceptional with the addition of prunes in Armagnac<br />
and crystallised almond, £7.50.<br />
My husband’s custard tart with strawberry sorbet,<br />
£7.50, was a thing of beauty which tasted every bit<br />
as good as it looked. Thin, delicate and crisp pastry<br />
encased a perfectly set custard flavoured with warming<br />
nutmeg, while the sorbet added a refreshing fruitiness.<br />
We finished the evening with coffees - a lovely Peruvian<br />
tunki - accompanied by salted caramel chocolates and,<br />
while we sipped our brews reflecting on an evening<br />
well spent, we vowed to make a return visit.<br />
Good local pubs are worth their weight in gold<br />
when they get their dining right. And, oh boy, have<br />
The Duncombe Arms got it right. A great setting,<br />
exemplary service and a menu which leaves you<br />
wanting to come straight back for more - you won’t be<br />
sorry you made the trip.<br />
31
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
Eating for health<br />
DR RUPY AUJLA, THE NHS GP WHO STARTED THE DOCTOR’S KITCHEN AS A PROJECT TO INSPIRE PATIENTS ABOUT THE<br />
BEAUTY OF FOOD AND THE MEDICINAL EFFECTS OF EATING WELL, WILL BE APPEARING AT THIS YEAR’S BBC GOOD FOOD<br />
SHOW SUMMER, TAKING PLACE FROM JUNE 14 TO 17 AT THE NEC - AND HERE WE SHARE A RECIPE FROM HIS HEALTHY<br />
EATING BOOK, THE DOCTOR’S KITCHEN<br />
Dr Rupy Aujla says: “As a doctor, I see the effects of<br />
poor dietary and lifestyle choices every day. I got so<br />
many questions about nutrition whilst working as a<br />
general practitioner that I plucked up the courage to<br />
get behind a camera and literally show my patients<br />
how to get phenomenal ingredients onto their plate.<br />
I’m just a straight talking doctor giving healthy eating<br />
inspiration<br />
“Flavour-packed, slow-cooked dishes are the simplest<br />
yet most satisfying and comforting meals. This rich<br />
Massaman curry can be made with meat, but I love<br />
using butternut squash instead. It takes on the spices<br />
really well and, with the extra veg, the dish has plenty<br />
of micronutrients. Greens, squash and other yellow or<br />
orange coloured vegetables are dense sources of provitamin<br />
A and offer vital phytonutrients for immunity<br />
and eye health. This recipe makes enough for lunch<br />
the next day, to make your co-workers envious!”<br />
Butternut Massaman Curry<br />
Ingredients<br />
2 tbsp coconut oil<br />
3 tsp Massaman paste (shop-bought or<br />
homemade paste)<br />
100g coconut cream<br />
500g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and<br />
cut into 4cm cubes<br />
300ml vegetable stock or water<br />
2 tsp fish sauce (optional)<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
1 tsp runny honey<br />
50g sugar snap peas, roughly chopped<br />
50g spinach, roughly chopped<br />
25g coriander leaves, roughly chopped<br />
20g dry roasted almonds, roughly crushed<br />
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper<br />
cooked brown rice, to serve (optional)<br />
Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan over a<br />
medium heat, add the Massaman paste and fry<br />
for 1 minute, then stir in the coconut cream.<br />
Add the cubed butternut squash, season with<br />
salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2–3<br />
minutes, until lightly coloured.<br />
Pour in the stock or water, add the fish sauce (if<br />
using), bay leaves and honey, cover and simmer<br />
for 25 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and<br />
the sauce has reduced.<br />
Remove from the heat, fold in the sugar snap<br />
peas and spinach and cover for 2 minutes. The<br />
heat of the curry will lightly cook them.<br />
Garnish the curry with the coriander and<br />
crushed almonds and serve it on its own or<br />
with a little brown rice on the side to soak up<br />
the creamy sauce.<br />
TIPS: Use soy sauce instead of fish sauce, if<br />
you wish, and add coconut milk with the stock<br />
to make the curry sauce extra creamy.<br />
32
B E S P O K E S O F A M A N U F A C T U R E<br />
& R E - U P H O L S T E R Y S P E C I A L I S T<br />
Our team of highly skilled professional craftsmen, create and manufacture<br />
sofa’s from design, for a living space that is truly unique. Coupled with our huge<br />
selection of fabrics we have the ability to create almost any type of bespoke design.<br />
Using traditional skills, we can also strip down your old suite or sofa and re-create the original<br />
design with our superior re-upholstery which is highly renowned for its finish and meticulous detail.<br />
‘For a truly unique and individual lounge setting we welcome<br />
you to our factory showroom to see what we can create for you.’<br />
Unit 19, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 7XN<br />
Contact Simon Edwards or Chris Edwards on 01543 505539<br />
Email: sales@ralvernupholstery.co.uk - www.ralvernupholstery.co.uk
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
Cocktail of the month<br />
HARRIET LOVATT, FROM LE RÊVE COCKTAIL BAR IN LICHFIELD, HAS CREATED A<br />
REFRESHING AND OH-SO-PRETTY SPRING COCKTAIL TO TANTALISE YOUR TASTEBUDS<br />
Spring Temptation<br />
50ml gin<br />
25ml vanilla syrup<br />
12.5ml raspberry purée<br />
12.5ml fresh lemon juice<br />
1 bottle tonic water<br />
3 fresh raspberries<br />
Muddle three fresh<br />
raspberries with vanilla<br />
syrup in your shaker.<br />
Add ice and all other<br />
ingredients apart from<br />
the tonic, then shake<br />
vigorously and double<br />
strain into your glass.<br />
Finally, top up with the<br />
tonic water.<br />
34
P R E N T I C E<br />
Quality Furniture<br />
01827 287387<br />
enquiry@prentice.co.uk<br />
www.prentice.co.uk
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
A refreshing change<br />
MICHAEL BALLANCE, FOUNDER OF SPECIALIST WINE COMPANY ITALSARDO,<br />
SAYS IT’S TIME TO TAKE NOTICE OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF WHITE WINE<br />
It’s one of those dilemmas in life; what to order in a<br />
restaurant or a wine bar when a nice glass of white<br />
wine is calling.<br />
Is it a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot<br />
Grigio? Well I say why not try an alternative to those<br />
traditional whites with a Vermentino.<br />
Vermentino is primarily found in Italy, particularly<br />
Sardinia where the climate best suits this grape variety.<br />
It is often grown on slopes facing the sea or very close<br />
to the coast.<br />
The wine is dry, fresh and very tasty, a delicate and a<br />
very fine wine and is best served at around 8-10oC.<br />
There is a great range of Vermentino wines; and here<br />
are some that Ital Sardo has chosen to bring to the<br />
UK.<br />
36
ITAL SARDO<br />
FINE WINES FROM ITALY<br />
A REFRESHING CHANGE<br />
Visit our online store for personally sourced wines from Italy<br />
www.italsardo.com<br />
wine@italsardo.com 01283 711588
Tyros<br />
Tyrsos Vermentino is a DOC wine produced from<br />
vines grown 50 metres above sea level on slightly<br />
sandy and clay soils. This wine is intense, smooth,<br />
fruity and flowery. It is a good to drink alone, with<br />
fish or light meat dishes. 13% alcohol.<br />
Ruinas<br />
Ruinus Vermentino is an IGT wine produced from<br />
vineyards situated in the heart of Gallura, 350 metres<br />
above sea level. This wine has a straw colour with<br />
a very fine bouquet, full of exotic fruit tastes. The<br />
granite/sandy soils imparts good minerality to the<br />
wine. 14.67% alcohol.<br />
Aragosta<br />
If you fancy a fizzy Vermentino you have to try<br />
Aragosta Brut, a refreshing change from Prosecco.<br />
Best served at 6-8oC, this fresh and elegant wine is a<br />
perfect aperitif or enjoyed with various seafood dishes.<br />
13.5% alcohol.<br />
Pedres<br />
One of the premium areas of Sardinia offers DOCG<br />
(Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)<br />
which the Italians view as the highest designation<br />
for quality. Pedres DOCG Vermentino is a dry and<br />
fresh wine with a delicate bouquet with fresh fruit<br />
and flowery notes. This is an excellent example of the<br />
Vermentino grape. 13% alcohol.<br />
Lupus<br />
This is one of my favourite wines, a DOCG Superiore<br />
from Gallura, Sardinia. This straw-coloured<br />
Vermentino comes in a bottle with a glass stopper,<br />
rather than a cork, synthetic cork or screw cap which<br />
are the traditional methods. This glass stopper is a<br />
nice novel idea that imparts individuality to the wine.<br />
The wine is very elegant, full of flavour, full of aromas<br />
of exotic fruits, good minerality and long finish - a<br />
long persistence in the mouth and nose. All in all, it’s<br />
an excellent DOCG Vermentino Superiore. 13.5 %<br />
alcohol.<br />
TYROS<br />
LUPUS<br />
ARAGOSTA<br />
RUINAS<br />
PEDRES<br />
Ital Sardo provides the superiority of Sardinian wine, and has also has recently<br />
extended its range of wines to include mainland Italy. All of the wines can be<br />
purchased from the new website www.italsardo.com or contact Patrick Gaunt,<br />
operations manager, on 01283 711588.<br />
38
The Pear Tree<br />
c r ê p e r i e<br />
HEART OF THE COUNTRY VILLAGE<br />
Open Bank Holiday Mondays<br />
<strong>May</strong> 7 th & <strong>May</strong> 28 th<br />
t he heart of t he home...<br />
Visit our showroom to be amazed by the choice -<br />
from traditional to modern<br />
With such a wide range of fires, fireplaces and stoves<br />
there is sure to be a style to suit you & your home<br />
We of f er<br />
a c omp le t e<br />
inst alla t ion<br />
serV ice<br />
Come and join us for a tasty galette or sweet crépe<br />
We specialise in gluten free<br />
Open Tues - Sun<br />
10am-4.30pm<br />
Call to book on<br />
01543 481807<br />
tatlowcarpets<br />
& flooring<br />
Quality flooring at affordable prices<br />
Abingdon, Adam’s, Associated Weavers, Axminster, Brintons, Brockways,<br />
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Free advice ✔ Free quotations ✔<br />
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Wit h such a wide range fr om traditional t o<br />
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10%<br />
OFF<br />
ALTERNATIVE FLOORING<br />
RANGES THROUGHOUT MAY<br />
Please see our website for further details www.tatlowcarpets.co.uk<br />
Tel: 01543 264766<br />
Open to the public. Mon-Fri: 9.00am - 5.00pm. Sat: 10.00am - 4.00pm<br />
Unit 4, Europa Way, Britannia Enterprise Park, Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9TZ<br />
5 Stafford Road, Lichfield WS13 7BZ<br />
Tel: 01543 263 383 • www.thefireplacelichfield.co.uk<br />
Email: sales@thefireplacelichfield.co.uk<br />
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm • Sat 10am - 4pm.<br />
Closed Sundays and bank holidays. FREE ON-SITE PARKING.
F O O D & D R I N K<br />
International f lavours<br />
LICHFIELD’S BEACON PARK WILL COME ALIVE WITH AN ECLECTIC MIX OF FLAVOURS AND AROMAS FROM ACROSS<br />
THE GLOBE WHEN THE FIRST CAFÉ INTERNATIONAL ARRIVES ON MAY 5. AMY NORBURY CHATS TO FRADLEY<br />
COUPLE NICOLA CLARK AND STEFAN SIEKIERSKI, WHO ARE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE NEW FOOD EVENT<br />
From French crepes, Sicilian cannoli and<br />
Spanish churros to Japanese hirata buns<br />
and Brazilian barbecue, there will be<br />
flavours and aromas galore ready to entice<br />
hungry punters into the picturesque<br />
surroundings of Lichfield’s Beacon Park<br />
this month.<br />
Café International is a brand new<br />
celebration of international food set up by<br />
Nicola Clark and Stefan Siekierski, who<br />
run an event management company of<br />
the same name. And on Saturday, <strong>May</strong><br />
5, their inaugural event will see the park<br />
come alive with cuisine from around the<br />
world.<br />
Stefan and Nicola may be familiar faces<br />
in the city; they already run the Cathedral<br />
Crepes stand, which can be found in<br />
the shadows of the Samuel Johnson<br />
Birthplace Museum most Saturdays, as<br />
well as catering for corporate events and<br />
weddings.<br />
Self-confessed Francophiles, Stefan and Nicola spend<br />
much of their family holiday time at their second<br />
home in France, near Caen in Brittany, with their<br />
three children; Stefan’s sons Asher, 13, and 16-year-old<br />
Louis, and Nicola’s daughter Alice, who’s 11. And it’s<br />
there where they fell in love with French food - and<br />
GRILLBRAZIL<br />
crepes in particular.<br />
“The one thing we crave more than anything when we<br />
are in England is delicious hot crepes,” says 38-yearold<br />
Stefan. “This is why we decided to make our own,<br />
to share the love.<br />
“We love all of the big French markets, and there are<br />
regular ones in the town where we live in France so<br />
we always go over to chat to the<br />
locals and eat the crepes there,<br />
and we thought it would be good<br />
to bring that back to Lichfield<br />
with us.<br />
“The crepes were just a hobby<br />
to begin with. We just thought it<br />
would be something nice to do,<br />
and a way to spend some time<br />
together on a Saturday.”<br />
Whenever they go on a jaunt to<br />
France, Stefan and Nicola stock<br />
up on vital ingredients for their<br />
authentic French crepes.<br />
“A lot of the products we use<br />
come from France, we try to<br />
40
CONSEQUENCE<br />
OF<br />
WAR<br />
1918 - <strong>2018</strong><br />
16 APRIL – 24 JUNE<br />
a major exhibition<br />
exploring themes<br />
of war & peace<br />
through art<br />
and history<br />
Internationally renowned artists include<br />
HENRY MOORE<br />
PAUL NASH<br />
GRAHAM SUTHERLAND<br />
HENRI GAUDIER-BRZESKA<br />
Like us on Facebook<br />
Follow us on twitter @LichfieldCath<br />
www.lichfield-cathedral.org/peace
ing as much back as we<br />
can,” says Stefan. “The<br />
products we use to make the<br />
crepes and galettes are all<br />
French, and we brings lovely<br />
French jams over too.”<br />
As well as their crepe business<br />
and events management,<br />
Stefan and Nicola both have<br />
demanding day jobs, working<br />
within the NHS; Stefan is<br />
a qualified nurse and works<br />
on large projects for NHS<br />
trusts around the country,<br />
while Nicola works on the<br />
governance side. Their roles<br />
both involve organising events<br />
- skills which have come in<br />
very handy for their new<br />
venture.<br />
The original inspiration for an<br />
international food event came one Saturday when the<br />
duo were helming their crepe stand in the city centre.<br />
They hit upon the idea of a European street food event<br />
as a way to expand their business - and that initial<br />
inspiration has now snowballed into a series of major<br />
events in Beacon Park throughout the year.<br />
“There was originally going to be just one event,” says<br />
CHURROS BARCELONA<br />
VISITORS CAN RELAX AND ENJOY THEIR FOOD<br />
UNDER THE BEAUTIFUL STRETCH TENT<br />
Nicola, who’s 36. “But then we went to meet with the<br />
Lichfield parks team and found out about them losing<br />
their funding for the parks so we thought we could<br />
work with them to do something.”<br />
Supported by Lichfield District Council and Lichfield<br />
BID, their aim is to entice more people from around<br />
the city and beyond to use the park.<br />
“Lichfield District Council have been amazing<br />
throughout the whole process of setting up<br />
the event,” says Stefan. “We’re so lucky to<br />
live in Lichfield and to have their support.<br />
They know they need to get tourists to<br />
come into the city and to stay overnight,<br />
and because our events are going on until<br />
10pm we hope people will make a weekend<br />
of it.”<br />
The spot the couple have chosen to hold<br />
their international street food festival is the<br />
very spot where they often enjoy family<br />
picnics.<br />
“We’ve managed to source some really<br />
good vendors,” says Stefan. “We’ve also<br />
helped some people to get set up so they’re<br />
going to be doing their first event with us at<br />
Café International.”<br />
“We’ve got around 40 international food<br />
traders, which is a nice number,” adds<br />
Nicola. “We didn’t want to duplicate types<br />
of food; we wanted to get a really good<br />
mix.<br />
“We’re holding the event under a big<br />
marquee, with all of the food vendors<br />
stationed around it. The idea is that people<br />
will choose their food and then gather<br />
under the marquee bar area to enjoy it.”<br />
The large central marquee - a funky stretch<br />
42
tent covering an area 15 by 21 metres - will host the<br />
main bar, which will be fully stocked with wines, beers<br />
and ales. Smaller marquees will hold the separate gin<br />
and prosecco bars, and there will be plenty of seating<br />
to enable visitors to relax and enjoy a drink and bite to<br />
eat in the tranquil park surroundings.<br />
Throughout the day there will also be a variety<br />
of family entertainment, as well as cookery<br />
demonstrations with experts from the Barbecue<br />
Association using locally-sourced meats to add an extra<br />
dimension to proceedings.<br />
At the heart of Nicola and Stefan’s events is the<br />
Lichfield community; they’re working with St Giles<br />
Hospice to sell their lottery tickets during the events,<br />
as well as promoting a reading scheme for people with<br />
mental health issues at Lichfield library.<br />
“It’s about food, entertainment and Lichfield,” says<br />
Stefan. “We want people to come together in the park<br />
for a great day out with their families.”<br />
Café International is just the start of Nicola and<br />
Stefan’s events plans for the park. In June they are<br />
holding the inaugural Lichfield Comedy Festival,<br />
with a music event planned for July, a Halloweenthemed<br />
event for October and the Café International<br />
Christmas Festival in December.<br />
The comedy festival, which takes place on June 23,<br />
will see a host of comedians take to a stage within the<br />
main marquee, with free entertainment and comedy<br />
shows from 10am until 4pm, followed by tickets shows<br />
aimed at both families until 7pm and adults from 7pm<br />
until 10pm. There will also be street food and bars for<br />
everyone to enjoy. The event will be hosted by Comedy<br />
42’s Chris Purchase, and comedians on the main bill<br />
include The Chase favourite Paul Sinha and Live at<br />
The Apollo regular Dane Baptiste.<br />
“We love the park; we spend a lot of time there as a<br />
family,” explains Stefan. “We want to both use the<br />
park and generate income for the park, as well as<br />
generate more income for the city. We want the whole<br />
of Lichfield to get involved, and to bring people here<br />
to our beautiful city from around Staffordshire and<br />
beyond.<br />
“It’s certainly turned into more than a hobby!”<br />
For more information visit<br />
www.cafeinternational.co.uk.<br />
NICOLA AND STEFAN RUN<br />
CATHEDRAL CREPES<br />
43
T R AV E L<br />
Dalmatian Discovery<br />
EMMA STONE, OF RB COLLECTION TAKES A FAMILIAR JOURNEY AROUND<br />
BEAUTIFUL CROATIA TO REIGNITE HER LOVE AFFAIR WITH THIS ADRIATIC JEWEL<br />
THE WATERFRONT TOWN OF ZADAR<br />
Never mind that I know Croatia really well (it’s one<br />
of my favourite places on earth) and never mind<br />
that it was just a few months ago that I had cruised<br />
along the country’s amazing coastline on board the<br />
Adriatic’s newest casual ship, the Agape Rose. Just<br />
three months later I was back, enticed by what is<br />
surely one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe.<br />
My love affair with Croatia is sincere, passionate -<br />
and ongoing.<br />
And so it was in mid-September that I returned to<br />
my beloved Croatia – to the Dalmatia region to be<br />
exact. The peak season crowds had left (wonderful),<br />
everything was still open (great) and the sea had<br />
warmed up beautifully (perfect). Most days it was<br />
sunny and around 24C.<br />
My journey started in Zadar, a glorious waterfront<br />
town about two hours north of famous Split and<br />
where the city’s old defensive walls had gained<br />
UNESCO heritage status just a few months earlier,<br />
in July 2017. A couple of cruise ships were docked<br />
one day, yet their passengers did not swamp the old<br />
town as sadly sometimes happens elsewhere. The<br />
two main attractions for the cruising crowd were the<br />
Greeting to the Sun and the Sea Organ, both located<br />
on the wide pedestrianised seafront promenade.<br />
They were installed a few years ago to bring life to<br />
the waterfront and they have done just that. The<br />
Greeting to the Sun is a massive, solar glass disk on<br />
the ground which stores the rays of sun during the<br />
day and releases them in the evening into a frenzy of<br />
colourful, sparkling laser-type beams. The Sea Organ<br />
is a clever piece of work where drilled holes and<br />
pipes allow the sea to make music - literally. People<br />
sit there for hours, listening and watching the bright<br />
blue Adriatic.<br />
I passed them as I headed for the ferry to Dugi Otok<br />
(long island). Part of my love affair with Croatia is<br />
connected to her amazing, hidden beaches and there<br />
are some gorgeous ones here. I adore secret bays.<br />
That evening I drove the 45 minutes to the<br />
amazingly named Biograd na Moru and the<br />
Hotel Ilirija right on the waterfront. Over coffee<br />
with Davor the reception manager (who said he<br />
remembered me from the previous year), I heard<br />
about the new indoor pool coming in spring <strong>2018</strong>,<br />
the new glass balconies and when we moved on to<br />
the subject of music, Davor berated me with “How<br />
did you miss our amazing jazz and blues festival?”. It<br />
44
THE GLORIOUS WALLED<br />
CITY OF TROGIR<br />
is now in the diary - late July <strong>2018</strong>. Here I indulged<br />
in two days of swimming through the lagoon-type<br />
bays with a quick trip over to Zlarin island late<br />
one afternoon and yes, a secret beach which I had<br />
to myself. I love the way that Croatian ferries and<br />
catamarans make travel so easy.<br />
My journey southwards brought me to Trogir a few<br />
days later. I never tire of this place and it really is<br />
one of the most stunning walled cities. It too is a<br />
UNESCO heritage site and handy for Split just 30<br />
minutes away. Endless polished marble streets, a<br />
museum telling the legend of Kairos, the God of the<br />
Fleeting Moment (useful for a pub quiz perhaps?),<br />
the wonderful main square with St Lawrence<br />
Cathedral and some impressive jewellery boutiques.<br />
I stayed at the brand new Hotel Ola at Seget Donji,<br />
a quick taxi ride away (both road and water type).<br />
I had read reports about the jaw dropping views<br />
from the rooftop infinity pool and, oh yes, they were<br />
amazing as was the view from my room across the<br />
sea towards Trogir. The hotel’s brilliant design means<br />
that every room has a wonderful sea view. But it was<br />
the Energy Clinic and Spa that drew my attention.<br />
There I learned that in April, <strong>May</strong>, September and<br />
October there is usually a 25 per cent discount on<br />
most of the programmes from detox to anti-smoking<br />
and I had found the perfect birthday present for my<br />
old pal David who has been trying to kick the habit<br />
for years. Voucher beautifully wrapped and tucked<br />
away, I wondered if my friend might welcome me as<br />
an observer next <strong>May</strong>?<br />
Food in this part of Croatia is essentially<br />
Mediterranean and healthy with lots of fish, seafood,<br />
pasta and quality olive oil and I had been eating lots<br />
of it. I had also noticed cookery courses advertised in<br />
Trogir.<br />
But I was getting ready to eat in a different way in<br />
Split, Croatia’s second city. Even 10 years ago, Split<br />
was considered as just the main ferry hub for<br />
the islands. Fast forward and it has become as<br />
sought after as Dubrovnik further south and<br />
people now stay longer. Split has always had a<br />
buzz, with daily life going on inside the historic<br />
walls of Diocletian’s Palace (also a UNESCO<br />
listed site and where the Emperor astutely had<br />
his retirement palace built). I had been told<br />
that Split had become something of a gourmet<br />
hotspot. Really? I found trendy new wine bars<br />
serving a wide range of tapas-style dishes,<br />
bistros offering everything from fusion cuisine to<br />
gourmet burgers, wonderful beach cafes serving<br />
small fresh fish in paper wrappers and some<br />
very high quality fine dining establishments too.<br />
Whoever would have thought it? On my last<br />
morning here I had coffee at a cafe on Split’s<br />
sandy Bavcice beach (sandy beaches are rare<br />
in Croatia) and watched locals play their game of<br />
‘picigin’ which involves running through a shallow<br />
sea and some dexterous moves with a sort of tennis<br />
ball. It was time to leave for my ferry.<br />
My destination was Supetar on the north coast<br />
of the island of Brac. The crossing takes just 50<br />
minutes and it’s so easy and frequent that many<br />
locals commute to Split for work. Tourists staying in<br />
Supetar can easily nip over to Split for a night at the<br />
opera – and back (last ferry from Split is at midnight).<br />
The island of Brac is one of my favourites. There<br />
are some great beaches, some excellent walks across<br />
old shepherds trails, some wonderful summer<br />
TROGIR IS A UNESCO WORLD<br />
HERITAGE SITE<br />
45
TROGIR, CROATIA<br />
festivals of food, wine and music and yes, some<br />
secret coves. While the V-shaped Zlatni Rat beach<br />
in Bol on the south of the island is possibly the most<br />
photographed place in Croatia, there are plenty of<br />
smaller waterside spots. I took a water taxi along to<br />
Lovrecina beach (not far from the Hotel Pastura in<br />
Postira – best reached from the sea or down a track)<br />
where I enjoyed a seafood risotto lunch at the beach<br />
bistro with a glass of superb white wine for around<br />
£12. There I met an American couple who were on<br />
their way to the island of Vis next day. They were<br />
going there for the very experience that bowled me<br />
over when I had visited from my Agape Rose cruise<br />
earlier in the year.<br />
Military history really doesn’t get more fascinating<br />
than on Vis with those hidden submarine hideouts,<br />
miles of tunnels and underground rocket launch<br />
sites, the old airfield and so many monuments to<br />
those who gave their lives during World War Two.<br />
I half wished I was going with the Americans. I<br />
wondered if they might bump into Meryl Streep,<br />
Colin Firth and others who were on the island during<br />
September and October, filming the sequel to the<br />
film Mamma Mia.<br />
Dubrovnik was to be almost my final stop on this<br />
incredible coastal journey. So much has been<br />
written about this UNESCO protected city. Has it<br />
been spoiled? No. Has it been over-run by cruise<br />
passengers? Yes, they are there in numbers but if<br />
you plan your visit to the old city before 10am and<br />
after 5pm, many of them have returned to their<br />
ships. Is it expensive? Yes, in just the way that a<br />
famous, sought after place anywhere in the world is<br />
more costly than a tiny, unknown village.<br />
Beauty does become Dubrovnik. I have visited so<br />
many times since the early Nineties and it still is<br />
special. I look beyond the tourist tat on sale up into<br />
the Renaissance balconies, I try to take in a concert<br />
in Rector’s Palace and I always hop over to Lokrum<br />
island (just 10 minutes away) to stroll through the<br />
Botanical Gardens, admire the monastery ruins and<br />
the Venus pools. There is always a peaceful spot<br />
there somewhere.<br />
I stayed in my favourite place near Dubrovnik and<br />
that is Cavtat. A long curved waterfront lined with<br />
palm trees that has a look of Saint Tropez about<br />
it, a lovely walk through woods up to the Racic<br />
mausoleum (great views) and the Hotel Cavtat<br />
which is always popular with returning Brits. The<br />
owners had superbly upgraded the place since my<br />
last visit with a stylish new restaurant, new rooms<br />
and an extended seafront cafe. I grabbed my book<br />
and headed for a seat by the water. I thought about<br />
how sometimes, things are not quite what one<br />
expects in Croatia. Indeed, they are often 20 times<br />
better.<br />
SPLIT, CROATIA<br />
46
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BEAUTIFUL CAVTAT<br />
47
F E AT U R E<br />
Racing to the top<br />
MIDLANDS COMPANY SYMDECK IS LEADING THE WAY WITH A NEW INNOVATION IN MOTORSPORTS<br />
GAMING - AND YOU COULD WIN A SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE AT THEIR ALREWAS SHOWROOM<br />
SIMON LEVESLEY AT<br />
SILVERSTONE<br />
Like many of life’s greatest ideas, the inspiration for<br />
Mike Johns and Simon Levesley’s innovative gaming<br />
race simulator came from a chat in the local pub.<br />
Both self-confessed petrolheads, Mike and<br />
Simon have more than 50 years of new product<br />
development and manufacturing experience. While<br />
discussing the merits of gaming simulators, the duo<br />
identified a gap in the market for a motion simulator<br />
that would be compatible with Xbox and Playstation<br />
consoles - more sophisticated and immersive than<br />
standard static simulators and more affordable than<br />
the current PC-based motion rigs on the market<br />
which will set gamers back upwards of £10,000.<br />
“I had a static simulator set up at home, just a<br />
cockpit with a racing seat on it, sat on the floor with<br />
a TV screen and an Xbox,” explains Mike. “When<br />
Simon came round for a drink at Christmas three<br />
years ago I showed him my setup and thought<br />
nothing more of it.”<br />
But Simon, who runs a product design consultancy,<br />
had seen potential to create a new kind of gaming<br />
simulator. Just weeks later, he had designed and built<br />
a wooden prototype on castors, placed a seat on top<br />
of it and, with a simple pulley system, demonstrated<br />
a basic motion platform.<br />
When Mike, who had spent 30 years in corporate<br />
design and manufacturing, was made redundant<br />
two years ago after the design and manufacturing<br />
operation that he managed was outsourced to China,<br />
he found that he had little appetite to jump back into<br />
another corporate role.<br />
“That was when I asked Simon if he wanted to do<br />
something with the prototype idea we’d created,”<br />
says Mike. “For the past two years we’ve been<br />
developing that initial concept into a productionready<br />
concept, which is now about to launch.”<br />
The result of that further prototype development is<br />
the Symdeck Motion Simulator, a domestic gaming<br />
motion platform which replicates the acceleration<br />
and braking forces experienced in real life racing car<br />
driving situations via the forward and rearward travel<br />
of the platform.<br />
The platform has been designed as a ‘plug and play’<br />
addition to existing static gaming seat cockpits and<br />
will operate independently from gaming software,<br />
making it compatible with Sony Playstation and<br />
48
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Microsoft Xbox consoles as well as PC.<br />
Mike and Simon have also designed their own static<br />
cockpit and combined this with the motion platform<br />
to create the RS Deck, an ‘off-the-shelf ’ fully<br />
integrated motion simulator for customers wanting to<br />
buy a complete solution.<br />
“There are lots of off-the-shelf cockpits so if people<br />
already have a static cockpit they only need to buy<br />
the motion platform,” says Mike.<br />
“Our own cockpit, though, has a lot more<br />
adjustability and a better quality racing seat, plus<br />
we’ve integrated a curved screen into the unit to<br />
create a much more immersive experience.<br />
“Most motion simulators pivot on a single point,<br />
which is more suited to flight simulators because<br />
it mimics the movement of an aeroplane or a<br />
helicopter. A car doesn’t move like that, and the<br />
motion in our simulator is much more representative<br />
of what you’d feel in a performance car. You get that<br />
shove in the back when you accelerate, and it’s trying<br />
to tip you out under braking.<br />
“One of the things we’ve recently added is a<br />
racing harness which straps over your shoulders<br />
and tensions under braking, so it gives you a tug<br />
on the shoulders to add another dimension to the<br />
experience. We’ve also added two fans by the screen<br />
which come on when you press the accelerator so<br />
you get a blast of air. It’s not just a 3D, it’s a 4D<br />
experience.<br />
Aiming their simulator at the motorsports and racing<br />
enthusiast market, rather than purely at gamers,<br />
Mike and Simon have demonstrated Symdeck at<br />
events including Autosport International, Race<br />
Retro and the NEC’s Classic Motor Show, to much<br />
enthusiasm from showgoers.<br />
“It’s been great to demonstrate our products and<br />
get some face-to-face feedback from<br />
potential customers,” says Mike.<br />
“Our simulators aren’t inexpensive<br />
at around £3-4,000, but the only<br />
other competitive motion simulators<br />
on the market are driven by PCs<br />
rather that Xbox or Playstation<br />
consoles so that’s our USP. You don’t<br />
need a £10,000 computer to drive<br />
the software; our unit is ‘plug and<br />
play’, it’s simple, it’s reliable and it’s<br />
affordable in the scheme of things. It’s<br />
also quite compact compared to other<br />
simulators.<br />
Symdeck are also part of the Made<br />
In Britain scheme, choosing local<br />
suppliers as far as possible.<br />
“All of our suppliers are regional<br />
suppliers, with many of our parts<br />
sourced locally - a lot of our parts are<br />
bespoke so we have them purposebuilt<br />
for us,” says Mike. “I’ve got a passion to keep<br />
manufacture in the UK so we’re not importing cheap<br />
parts from China.<br />
“We assemble all of the products ourselves here<br />
too; we’ve done all of the design, we put everything<br />
together and we will be going out to commission and<br />
set up in customers’ homes.”<br />
Although Symdeck is new to the market, Mike and<br />
Simon are continually testing new ideas to add extra<br />
dimensions to the experience.<br />
“We’ve still got loads of ideas, so we’re also setting up<br />
a technical development simulator where we can test<br />
things out here,” says Mike.<br />
Gaming enthusiasts are also invited to the Alrewas<br />
showroom to test drive the Symdeck simulators for<br />
themselves and can hire the simulators for gaming<br />
experiences.<br />
For more information visit www.symdeck.com<br />
SYMDECK’S MIKE JOHNS<br />
50
The Competition<br />
J’AIME HAS TEAMED UP WITH SYMDECK TO OFFER READERS THE CHANCE TO WIN A GAMING<br />
SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE AT THEIR ALREWAS SHOWROOM WORTH £80. THREE LUCKY<br />
WINNERS WILL EACH BE ABLE TO TAKE A FRIEND ALONG TO ENJOY AN HOUR ON SYMDECK’S<br />
UNIQUE RACING SIMULATORS.<br />
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THIS EXCITING PRIZE, SIMPLY ANSWER THE<br />
FOLLOWING QUESTION:<br />
WHERE IS SYMDECK’S SHOWROOM BASED?<br />
Send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number, by email to competitions@jaimemagazine.com with Symdeck<br />
Experience competition as the email subject. Entries must be received by 5pm on Friday, <strong>May</strong> 25, and our winner will be notified by<br />
Wednesday, <strong>May</strong> 30. No cash alternative is available. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.jaimemagazine.com for further details.<br />
SYMDECK DEMONSTRATED<br />
THEIR RANGE OF SIMULATORS<br />
AT A NUMBER OF<br />
MOTORSPORTS SHOWS<br />
51
LO CA L A R E A<br />
What’s On Local<br />
YOUR GUIDE TO THE BEST OF WHAT’S ON IN AND AROUND<br />
SUTTON COLDFIELD, LICHFIELD, WALSALL AND BEYOND<br />
WHAT: Showaddywaddy<br />
WHERE: Sutton Coldfield<br />
Town Hall<br />
WHEN: <strong>May</strong> 4<br />
Some 45 years after forming<br />
in Leicester, Showaddywaddy<br />
are on tour in Sutton Coldfield<br />
this month for a show at the Town Hall. Famed for their<br />
coordinated dance moves, colourful suits and catchy<br />
50s and 60s rock and roll songs, the band are regularly<br />
described as the ‘hardest working band in the UK’.<br />
Original members Romeo Challenger and Rod Deas<br />
lead the six-piece line up, which is managed by another<br />
original member, Dave Bartram.<br />
Their appearance on TV’s New Faces’ All-Winners<br />
Final in December 1973 led to a flurry of record deal<br />
offers. Their first single, Hey Rock and Roll, on the Bell<br />
Records label reached number two in the UK charts in<br />
April 1974, followed by a further 22 chart hits and an<br />
incredible 209 weeks in the UK singles chart. Tickets,<br />
priced at £25 and £27 are available from the Town<br />
Hall’s Box office on 0121 296 9543 or online at<br />
www.townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk<br />
WHAT:<br />
Drive-In movies<br />
WHERE:<br />
Beacon Park, Lichfield<br />
WHEN:<br />
<strong>May</strong> 12 and 19<br />
Drive-in movie nights return to<br />
Lichfield this month with two cinema classics showing<br />
on Beacon Park’s giant inflatable screen.<br />
First up is cult British comedy, The Italian Job, on<br />
<strong>May</strong> 12, followed by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey<br />
having the time of their lives in Dirty Dancing on <strong>May</strong><br />
19. Simply tune in your car radio to hear the soundtrack<br />
and remember to leave plenty of room for movie meals<br />
and cinema snacks. There will also be a reserved area in<br />
front of the cars for on foot ticket holders to bring along<br />
chairs and blankets to enjoy the film outside.<br />
Entry is by pre-booked ticket only; tickets cost £25<br />
per car with a maximum of four people, £8 on foot<br />
including headset hire, or £5 on foot without headset<br />
hire. Headsets also require a £15 refundable deposit.<br />
For more information call 01543 308867 or visit www.<br />
lichfieldhistoricparks.co.uk<br />
WHAT: Walk About Festival<br />
WHERE: Around Sutton Coldfield<br />
WHEN: <strong>May</strong> 26 to June 3<br />
Step out with the Sutton Coldfield Ramblers<br />
as part of the nationwide Walk About Festival<br />
this summer to discover the best of our<br />
area, and uncover the hidden gems on your<br />
doorstep.<br />
Tony Le Feuvre, of the Sutton Coldfield<br />
Ramblers, said: “Anyone who loves walking<br />
will know it’s the best way to discover the<br />
world around you – it could be an amazing<br />
secret view, a quirky old building tucked down<br />
a side-street, or simply a fantastic new walking route. We<br />
know lots of great spots and want to share them with<br />
others.”<br />
Sutton Coldfield Ramblers are running several walks<br />
throughout the festival including: <strong>May</strong> 27 - a walk around<br />
the Warwickshire countryside to discover the hidden gem<br />
of John Wesley’s tree; <strong>May</strong> 31 - a two-mile family walk<br />
around Sutton Park; June 3 - a ten-mile walk around the<br />
Leicestershire countryside to discover Bruntingthorpe<br />
airfield; and also June 3 - a walk through the Newhall<br />
Valley, a green corridor through Sutton Coldfield. For<br />
more details call Tony Le Feuvre on 0121 354 7759 or<br />
visit www.suttoncoldfieldramblers.co.uk<br />
52
......<br />
......<br />
........................................<br />
STEAK<br />
& Date night<br />
........................................<br />
MONDAYS 5-9pm<br />
Two Staffordshire Steaks &<br />
a Bottle of Pom’s Wine<br />
£35<br />
View Menus<br />
online<br />
pomskitchen.uk<br />
Book a<br />
table<br />
01543 250 085<br />
20-22 Bird Street, Lichfield,<br />
Staffordshire WS13 6PR<br />
EMAIL: INFO@POMSKITCHEN.UK<br />
Would you like<br />
your restaurant or<br />
forthcoming event<br />
featured in J’aime?<br />
CONTACT JAN ASHLEY ON 07388 335931<br />
OR EMAIL EDITOR@JAIMEMAGAZINE.COM<br />
J’AIME<br />
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@jaimemagazine<br />
www.jaimemagazine.com<br />
アパート<br />
夀 䔀 䄀 刀 匀 伀 䘀<br />
䈀 䔀 匀 倀 伀 䬀 䔀 䘀 䤀 一 䔀 䨀 䔀 圀 䔀 䰀 䰀 䔀 刀 夀 ꀀ<br />
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䄀 䰀 䰀 䔀 一 䈀 刀 伀 圀 一 䨀 䔀 圀 䔀 䰀 䰀 䔀 刀 夀<br />
䠀 攀 愀 爀 琀 漀 昀 吀 栀 攀 䌀 漀 甀 渀 琀 爀 礀 匀 栀 漀 瀀 瀀 椀 渀 最 嘀 椀 氀 氀 愀 最 攀<br />
匀 眀 椀 渀 昀 攀 渀 Ⰰ 䰀 椀 挀 栀 ǻ 攀 氀 搀 Ⰰ<br />
匀 琀 愀 昀 昀 漀 爀 搀 猀 栀 椀 爀 攀 圀 匀 㐀 㤀 儀 刀<br />
㔀 㐀 アパート 㐀 㠀 㤀 㐀 㠀<br />
眀 眀 眀 ⸀ 愀 氀 氀 攀 渀 戀 爀 漀 眀 渀 樀 攀 眀 攀 氀 氀 攀 爀 礀 ⸀ 挀 漀 ⸀ 甀 欀<br />
昀 椀 琀
WHAT: Consequences of War<br />
WHERE: Lichfield Cathedral<br />
WHEN: Until June 24<br />
A poignant, moving and revealing free exhibition<br />
which draws attention to the effect of World War One,<br />
Consequences of War will explore the immediate<br />
aftermath of the conflict and the quest and failure of the<br />
search for peace over the subsequent century.<br />
The exhibition combines reflections of conflict from a<br />
local and national perspective and involves the work of<br />
some of Britain’s most significant post-war artists, which<br />
will question our notions of peace and war. Artists whose<br />
work will be on display include Henry Moore, Paul Nash,<br />
Graham Sutherland and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.<br />
Other exhibits will include original work by the<br />
Cathedral’s Artist in Residence Peter Walker, items from<br />
the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Military Valour<br />
awards and trench art.<br />
To mark this special exhibition, there will also be a series<br />
of lectures throughout <strong>May</strong> on the consequences of World<br />
War One on music, art, society and religion. On <strong>May</strong><br />
2, Dr Philip Lancaster will discuss music in the wake of<br />
World War One in his lecture, Modes of War; on <strong>May</strong> 16<br />
Dr Hannah Higham. curator of Henry Moore Collections<br />
and Exhibitions at the Henry Moore Foundation in<br />
Hertfordshire, talks about Henry Moore’s art during the<br />
transitional post-war period; on <strong>May</strong> 22, Professor Gary<br />
Sheffield looks at the social consequences of the First<br />
World War; and rounding off the series on <strong>May</strong> 30 is<br />
Lichfield’s Very Reverend Adrian Dorber with Conflict<br />
and Faith: the impact of the First World War.<br />
Tickets are £5 to each lecture, or a season pass is £15, and<br />
are available online or at The Shop at No. 9, The Close.<br />
For more details visit www.lichfield-cathedral.org<br />
54
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LO CA L A R E A<br />
What’s<br />
Competition<br />
on Second City<br />
A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST<br />
EVENTS TO COME TO BIRMINGHAM THIS MONTH<br />
WHAT: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds<br />
WHERE: Arena Birmingham<br />
WHEN: <strong>May</strong> 1<br />
Noel Gallagher’s<br />
High Flying<br />
Birds soar into<br />
the slipstream of<br />
exhilarating new<br />
album, Who Built<br />
The Moon?,<br />
for a return to<br />
Birmingham this month as part of their UK and<br />
Ireland arena tour.<br />
The keenly anticipated follow-up to the platinumselling<br />
Chasing Yesterday, Noel Gallagher’s High<br />
Flying Birds’ third album Who Built The Moon?<br />
Was released in November to critical acclaim. While<br />
flowing from the same, molten core of melody,<br />
songwriting craft and towering self-belief, the album<br />
is poised between experimental and a jukebox of<br />
ageless influence following a bracing, two-year<br />
creative collaboration with renowned producer, DJ<br />
and composer, David Holmes. For more details visit<br />
www.arenabham.co.uk<br />
WHAT: A Matter of Life and Death<br />
WHERE: Various locations citywide<br />
WHEN: <strong>May</strong> 10 to 26<br />
A Birmingham arts and culture<br />
festival is tackling the taboos of<br />
death and dying with a programme<br />
of theatre, film, food, art and crafts,<br />
exhibitions, tours and discussion. A Matter of Life and<br />
Death, from <strong>May</strong> 10 to 26, is aiming to encourage open<br />
and honest conversation about death and dying through<br />
a variety of events aimed at all ages.<br />
Organised by BrumYODO, a diverse community<br />
collective featuring health professionals, undertakers,<br />
artists, hospice staff and lawyers, it takes in a range of<br />
venues including the Electric Cinema, The Coffin Works,<br />
Library of Birmingham, Birmingham Museum and Art<br />
Gallery, Ort Gallery and the John Lewis Community<br />
Hub. Kicking off the festival is Annabel de Vetten of<br />
Conjurer’s Kitchen with a Movie Taste-Along to the cult<br />
horror Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp. Audiences<br />
will be biting into delicious treats inspired by the Tim<br />
Burton film.<br />
For full details of all the A Matter of Life and Death<br />
events and tickets see www.brumyodo.org.uk<br />
WHAT: ART<br />
WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome<br />
WHEN: <strong>May</strong> 21 to 26<br />
ART is a phenomenon and one of the most successful<br />
plays ever. Having opened in 1996, it took both the<br />
West End and Broadway by storm, won Olivier, Tony,<br />
Moliere and every other major theatre award, and has<br />
been packing in audiences worldwide for more than<br />
20 years.<br />
When Serge spends an extortionate amount of money<br />
on an all white modernist painting, his close friends<br />
Marc and Yvan are baffled. But does their violent<br />
reactions to this provocative canvas mirror more<br />
dangerous antagonisms towards each other? Yasmina<br />
Reza’s dazzling study of friendship, prejudice and<br />
tolerance is a masterpiece.<br />
The all-star cast features Nigel Havers, Olivier Awardwinning<br />
Denis Lawson and Stephen Tompkinson. For<br />
more details visit<br />
www.birminghamhippodrome.com<br />
56
WHAT:<br />
Legally Blonde the Musical<br />
WHERE:<br />
New Alexandra Theatre<br />
WHEN:<br />
<strong>May</strong> 21 to 26<br />
Legally Blonde the Musical<br />
brings its brand new UK tour<br />
to Birmingham this month,<br />
starring Lucie Jones as Elle<br />
Woods opposite Rita Simons<br />
as Paulette and Bill Ward as Professor Callahan.<br />
The smash hit Broadway and West End Musical based<br />
on the best loved movie follows beautiful and popular<br />
sorority sister Elle Woods who loves to be pampered<br />
and is passionate about pink. When she is dumped<br />
by her boyfriend Warner Huntingdon III for a more<br />
serious girlfriend she puts down the credit cards and<br />
picks up the books. Packing up her trusty pooch,<br />
Bruiser, she bags herself a place at the prestigious<br />
Harvard Law School to try and win him back. With<br />
the support of her new friends she learns that you can<br />
be both smart and fashionable. For more details visit<br />
www.atgtickets.com/birmingham<br />
WHAT:<br />
Our Country’s Good<br />
WHERE:<br />
Birmingham REP<br />
WHEN:<br />
<strong>May</strong> 23 to June 2<br />
In 1787, ships each<br />
with over 700 convicts on board set sail on an eight<br />
month voyage. When they arrive in Australia, their<br />
survival is by no means certain: supplies are running<br />
out, the convicts are stealing food or trying to escape<br />
and the guards are threatening mutiny.<br />
Our Country’s Good tells the extraordinary true<br />
story of a group of convicts and a young officer<br />
who rehearse and perform a play – Australia’s first<br />
theatrical production. With opposition from the<br />
officers and a leading lady who may be hanged, the<br />
odds are stacked against them.<br />
Our Country’s Good is a touring production made<br />
in co-production with Ramps on the Moon, and<br />
the production features the creative use of audio<br />
description, signing, and captions. For more details<br />
visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk<br />
WHAT:<br />
A Change<br />
is Gonna<br />
Come<br />
WHERE:<br />
Birmingham<br />
Town Hall<br />
WHEN:<br />
<strong>May</strong> 29<br />
Four of the most gifted soul, jazz and rap artists<br />
explore the power of protest songs in this not-to-bemissed<br />
collaboration. Leading an incredible sextet are<br />
supremely talented queens of their trade: the soulful<br />
Carleen Anderson, jazz virtuosos Nikki Yeoh and<br />
Nubya Garcia, and Mercury Prize-winning rapper<br />
Speech Debelle.<br />
On stage together for the first time, they will perform<br />
unique interpretations of iconic songs from the time of<br />
the civil rights through to today. This special concert<br />
also features powerful new compositions by Anderson<br />
and Yeoh highlighting the ongoing fight for equal<br />
human rights. For more details visit www.thsh.co.uk<br />
WHAT: Stomp<br />
WHERE: Birmingham Hippodrome<br />
WHEN: <strong>May</strong> 29 to June 2<br />
The unstoppable smash-hit is back for one week only<br />
and it’s fresher, faster and funnier than ever! Stomp<br />
takes familiar objects like newspapers, bins, plastic<br />
bags and even the kitchen sink and uses them to create<br />
a universal language of rhythm and movement that’s<br />
playful, thrilling and exploding with energy.<br />
From its humble beginnings in Brighton in 1991,<br />
Stomp has grown into a truly global phenomenon that<br />
will set your toes tapping and your pulse racing. Stomp<br />
combines dance, comedy and music into an experience<br />
like no other – don’t miss it! For more details visit<br />
www.birminghamhipodrome.com<br />
GET INVOLVED: Have you got a local event<br />
you’d like to promote? Then we’d love to hear<br />
from you. From charity nights to local theatre<br />
productions and more, send details to editor@<br />
jaimemagazine.com and you could see your<br />
event on these pages.<br />
57
FA S H I O N<br />
Jean genius<br />
A PERENNIAL WARDROBE FAVOURITE, THERE’S A DENIM OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE.<br />
AND THIS SEASON’S STYLES GO BEYOND JEANS TO BRING A DENIM TWIST TO ALL AREAS<br />
OF YOUR WARDROBE, SAYS AMY NORBURY<br />
DENIM never really goes out of fashion. Genderless and versatile,<br />
it’s safe to say denim is a fabric which suits everyone, regardless of<br />
size, shape and age, and we’ve all got at least some denim pieces<br />
lurking in our wardrobes.<br />
With that said, there’s definitely a swathe of trends which come and<br />
go, so make sure you look beyond the jeans which are already in<br />
your drawer and stay up to date with what’s fresh for the new season.<br />
After last year’s flirtation with ‘mom’ jeans, SS18 sees skinnies back<br />
as the silhouette of choice, with a particular emphasis on highwaisted<br />
styles. A timeless classic, skinny jeans are actually one of the<br />
most easy--to-wear and flattering cuts, with high-waisted versions<br />
particularly good at accentuating your waist and sculpting your midsection.<br />
If you’re after something a bit different, look out for embellishments,<br />
lace trims and floral fabric patches create a sweet summer vibe,<br />
while zip detail and scatterings of metal studs, pearls or even sequins<br />
seriously up the glam factor.<br />
But to get to the heart of this season’s denim, you need to look<br />
beyond the jeans and embrace the acid wash and indigo in all areas<br />
of your wardrobe.<br />
Like the perfect pair of jeans, a great denim dress works for day or<br />
night, depending on how you accessorise it. A simple shirt dress is a<br />
real transitional hero piece; team with fringed ankle boots on chillier<br />
days or with suede sandals for summer style.<br />
If you want a change from your jeans, dungarees are a great<br />
summer style staple; layer with a crisp white shirt or blouse for<br />
smart style, or team with a simple T-shirt or vest for casual cool.<br />
Cut-off dungarees and dungaree dresses are also versatile wardrobe<br />
additions.<br />
Last summer was all about distressed, oversized acid wash denim<br />
jackets, and while fashion still favours a vintage vibe, now it’s about<br />
cropped styles. For something slightly more dressy, a neat collarless<br />
denim jacket with pocket detailing is the casual equivalent of a<br />
boucle blazer and is the ideal cover-up for a floaty boho maxi.<br />
When it comes to colour, pretty much anything goes. Classic indigo<br />
and black are perfect for creating a smarter look, particularly in<br />
tailored and clean-cut styles. Paler washes are ideal as we head into<br />
the summer months, or even experiment with white and pastel<br />
versions of your favourite styles to inject a fresh vibe into your denim<br />
collection.<br />
PRAIRIE DRESS, £28,<br />
AND JACKET, £36,<br />
DOROTHY PERKINS<br />
58
£230<br />
£60<br />
LEANNE CHAMBRAY<br />
DRESS, FATFACE<br />
KSUBI PINAFORE<br />
DRESS, HARVEY<br />
NICHOLS<br />
RUFFLE DENIM<br />
JACKET, LABEL LAB AT<br />
HOUSE OF FRASER<br />
£1,230<br />
£49.50<br />
SEE BY CHLOE<br />
DARK BLUE DENIM<br />
ESPADRILLE WEDGE<br />
SANDALS, HARVEY<br />
NICHOLS<br />
£170<br />
BALMAIN BLUE HIGH<br />
RISE SKINNY JEANS,<br />
HARVEY NICHOLS<br />
£39<br />
DEE DENIM TRAINER,<br />
WHITE STUFF<br />
£45<br />
POPPER DETAIL TEE,<br />
LABEL LAB AT HOUSE<br />
OF FRASER<br />
HUSH DENIM<br />
DRESS, £79.50,<br />
OLIVER BONAS<br />
DISTRACTION<br />
DENIM DRESS,<br />
£69.50, OLIVER<br />
BONAS<br />
DENIM JACKET, £140,<br />
BETTY BARCLAY
FA S H I O N<br />
Best foot forward<br />
JILL HARTLEY, CO-OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF NERO E BIANCO EXCLUSIVE FASHION AND<br />
BRIDAL BOUTIQUE AT BARTON MARINA, SAYS IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT SUMMER FOOTWEARE<br />
We’ve all had enough of winter boots and if the weather forecast is to be noted, then we are looking forward to<br />
a sunny <strong>May</strong> and we need to get our feet into something lighter and brighter. This season the big designers have<br />
gone all out in metallic and monochrome.<br />
The great thing about footwear is it can really change a look, bring old outfits back to life and we can reinvent<br />
ourselves with a pair of heels or a trendy trainer.<br />
Often with a fashionable shoe there is a compromise on comfort; so many times I’ve heard the saying ‘car to<br />
restaurant only shoes’ - which I think most women can relate to!<br />
Personally, I adore shoes and have suffered in the past for the sake of fashion or to match an outfit. So, I decided<br />
to take on an important mission and to find footwear that has comfort and fashion at the same time? Sounds<br />
reasonable to me!<br />
Here we go with the first of my finds...<br />
Fringe benefits<br />
These two are beautiful soft Italian leather with the up-to-date metallic look<br />
and tassel detail - so stylish.<br />
This cute little shoe has a<br />
kitten heel and offers the<br />
elegance of a stiletto without<br />
the pain, the shape of this<br />
shoe is idea for an average to<br />
slim foot and is high enough<br />
at the front to pass over any<br />
lumps and bumps.<br />
The difference here<br />
is the square toe gives<br />
room for an average<br />
to wider foot and a<br />
block heel is extremely<br />
comfortable to wear.<br />
Gladiators ready<br />
Now this is a pair of sandals! Again, soft<br />
Italian leather with the on-trend metallic;<br />
here we see the silver, gold and rose gold<br />
colours work so well together. The block<br />
heel supports the foot so although there is<br />
height, there is comfort, and the softness<br />
of the leather moulds around the foot so<br />
elegantly and offers support to the foot<br />
and ankle. This is our elegant gladiator<br />
sandal that you can wear with any outfit<br />
to give the wow factor.<br />
60
www.neroebianco.co.uk<br />
Nero e Bianco Exclusive Fashion & Bridal<br />
Barton Marina Burton upon Trent DE13 8AS<br />
01283 346704
Peep show<br />
This lovely peep toe shoe is again made from Italian<br />
leather and has insole comfort. The shape of the shoe<br />
envelopes the foot and the hidden platform reduces<br />
the heel height so there is still the elegance but with the<br />
comfort factor.<br />
This leather is iridescent and what is amazing is whatever<br />
colour you wear it will reflect that colour as the light<br />
catches the shoe. So essentially you can wear this shoe with<br />
absolutely any colour and it will work.<br />
Winning wedge<br />
Now every girl needs a wedge sandal for summer. This stylish<br />
wedge is perfect for comfort and style. The criss-cross holds the<br />
foot well and this style has a cushioned insole. We love this sandal<br />
for summer days and nights, dress up with a floaty dress or white<br />
skinnies and a snazzy top and wear casually with shorts and T-shirt.<br />
So versatile, Italian leather with a little bit of sparkle – wonderful!<br />
Casual style<br />
Here we go with our favourite contemporary ‘trainer’ shoe with a<br />
slight hidden wedge and zip sides so once you have laced for fit, the zip<br />
can be used easily for putting on and taking off. The Italian leather is<br />
cleverly structured to hold and support the foot well, so it is functionable,<br />
comfortable and super stylish. Don’t just wear this shoe for walks in the<br />
park; team up with a long or midi dress for a really cool look.<br />
Mono magic<br />
Well heeled<br />
We had to find a stiletto in this mission for style and comfort! Some of<br />
you ladies will always, always, go for a stiletto to feel sophisticated, so<br />
here is a stiletto with comfort insole and moulded to encapsulate the<br />
foot for maximum support. We have gone with the skin monochrome<br />
with a sheen, so again great leather, style and totally on-trend.<br />
Nero e Bianco is Italian for black and white, so we had to have<br />
a signature summer sandal. Here it is, the black and white<br />
block heel sandal with a personality! This is such an incredible<br />
Italian leather sandal with comfort that makes a statement and<br />
can be worn at any age. It’s fun and funky, just what we need<br />
after the long winter.<br />
Enjoy you summer footwear ladies – comfortably!<br />
62
B E AU T Y<br />
Dare to bare!<br />
ONE OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT TRENDS FROM THE SS18 CATWALKS WAS NOT THE COLOUR PALETTES<br />
OR PRINTS; INSTEAD IT WAS THE FACT THAT SOME DESIGNERS OPTED FOR A COMPLETE NO MAKEUP LOOK<br />
TO SHOWCASE THEIR COLLECTIONS. LANVIN, RODARTE, ALEXANDER WANG AND VICTORIA BECKHAM<br />
PLUMPED FOR THE SERIOUSLY MINIMAL, CONFIRMING HEALTHY LOOKING SKIN IS AS BIG A TREND AS<br />
STATEMENT MAKEUP. THIS SPRING YOU CAN PROVE LESS REALLY IS MORE… JUST MAKE SURE YOUR<br />
COMPLEXION IS UP TO THE JOB! WE ASKED LISA PIDDINGTON, FROM HARVEY NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM,<br />
TO PICK THIS SEASON’S SKINCARE SAVIOURS TO LEAVE YOU LOOKING NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL.<br />
A great multi-tasker, Pestle &<br />
Mortar’s Pure Hyaluronic<br />
Acid Serum (£36) targets<br />
fine lines, dullness and<br />
dehydration restoring a<br />
healthy glow, plumpness<br />
and radiance.<br />
The Grande<br />
Dame of skincare,<br />
La Mer’s The<br />
Concentrate<br />
(£270) helps renew<br />
damaged skin while<br />
special revitalising<br />
ingredients help<br />
strengthen and<br />
protect.<br />
The must-have Pixi Glow Tonic<br />
(£10) works to exfoliate, smooth<br />
and brighten the complexion for a<br />
healthy glow. Alcohol-free, it’s gentle<br />
on all skin types.<br />
Magnify the beauty<br />
of your eyes with<br />
Estée Lauder’s<br />
Advanced Night<br />
Repair Eye<br />
Concentrate<br />
Matrix,<br />
(£49). This<br />
ultra-nourishing,<br />
strengthening<br />
formula helps<br />
reduce the appearance of fine<br />
lines, puffiness and dark circles.<br />
Previse’s Ozone Defence<br />
Nutrify Serum (£49) is infused<br />
with vitamins B5 and hyaluronic<br />
acid to bind moisture to the skin<br />
and lock-out airborne pollutants,<br />
while vitamins B3 and C help fight<br />
oxidative damage.<br />
NARS’ Instant Line &<br />
Pore Perfector (£20) uses<br />
microspheres and hyaluronic<br />
acid to plump and smooth<br />
wrinkles and reduce the size<br />
of pores, leaving the surface<br />
of the skin soft and even.<br />
ALL PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE BEAUTY HALL AT HARVEY<br />
NICHOLS BIRMINGHAM AND ONLINE AT HARVEYNICHOLS.COM<br />
63
I N T H E N E W S<br />
Say ‘I Do’ to dance<br />
Ever sat watching the pros and celebrities on Strictly<br />
Come Dancing and wishes you could move as<br />
effortlessly and stylishly on the dancefloor? One<br />
Midlands business is making it their mission to help<br />
everyone find their dancing feet.<br />
Run by dance teacher Laura Evans, I Do Dances<br />
aims to make partner dancing easy. Laura provides<br />
one-to-one tuition in your own home. Whether you<br />
want to make your first wedding dance that little bit<br />
extra special or whether you want your two left feet<br />
working together, Laura’s personalised home lessons<br />
will get you whirling round that dance floor together.<br />
Laura says: “I found dance at a low point in my life<br />
and without it I wouldn’t be where I am today. I love<br />
passing my knowledge onto others and seeing their<br />
faces light up when they learn something new. It’s not<br />
just a job for me dancing is my hobby, my passion<br />
and my life.”<br />
Laura has more than 10 years’ dance experience<br />
and is a fully qualified instructor. She specialises in<br />
modern jive, a dance style derived from swing,<br />
lindy hop, rock and roll, salsa and others. The<br />
main innovation with modern jive is simplifying<br />
the footwork, making it the perfect style for<br />
dancers of any ability, from complete novice to<br />
dancefloor expert. Laura has won many modern jive<br />
competitions including the world championships at<br />
the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.<br />
Whether it’s a wedding, birthday party or special<br />
events, or you just want some help on your the<br />
dancefloor moves, Laura can help. For more<br />
information call 07904 990114 or visit<br />
www.idodances.co.uk<br />
A charity boost from Lichfield auctioneer<br />
Auctioneer Richard Winterton has handed over a<br />
£1,000 cheque to the We Love Lichfield fund.<br />
The money has come from the family firm<br />
auctioning off items donated to charity by customers.<br />
Mr Winterton invited We Love Lichfield patron<br />
Simon Price to his salerooms at the Lichfield<br />
Auction House, Fradley Park, in April to make the<br />
presentation. The Bargain Hunt regular said he was<br />
delighted to have had We Love Lichfield as one of<br />
the auction house’s chosen charities for the past year.<br />
“It’s a real privilege to be able to present £1,000 to<br />
such an important fund which helps so many small<br />
local clubs and projects,” said Mr Winterton. “The<br />
work Simon does with his colleagues is outstanding<br />
and we all wish it continued success.”<br />
We Love Lichfield is a local fund providing small<br />
grants to a wide range of projects across Lichfield<br />
district. All donations are invested through a<br />
permanent endowment fund by registered charity<br />
The Community Foundation For Staffordshire. We<br />
Love Lichfield considers all applications from local<br />
groups and makes presentations to the organisations<br />
chosen twice a year.<br />
Richard Winterton Auctioneers is offering free<br />
valuations at the Stone House Hotel in Stone on<br />
Wednesday, <strong>May</strong> 9, 10am-2pm. Free valuations also<br />
take place from 9.30am-4pm every Tuesday at The<br />
Lichfield Auction Centre, Wood End Lane, Fradley<br />
Park WS13 8NF. Telephone 01543 251081 or<br />
email lichfield@richardwinterton.co.uk.<br />
The next Decorative and Design Sale is on July 11.<br />
Final entries are being invited until Tuesday, June 19.<br />
64
Life in the fast lane<br />
M OTO R S<br />
THIS MONTH J’AIME’S MOTORING CORRESPONDENT AND RESIDENT RACING<br />
DRIVER MARTIN PLOWMAN GOES FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SIGHT<br />
THE TEAM HAS THREE CUSTOM-<br />
BUILT DUAL-CONTROL CARS<br />
After more than 20 years in the motorsport industry<br />
I have pretty much seen it all and am not easily<br />
impressed, but this week I was introduced to a guy<br />
and an organisation that blew me away.<br />
The guy in question is a gentleman called Mike<br />
Newman. Mike is a professional driver and has<br />
appeared in several adverts for major car companies<br />
around the world. In 2011 he drove a modified<br />
Nissan-GTR at more than 200mph. What makes<br />
his achievement so impressive is that Mike was born<br />
blind.<br />
Mike is a trailblazer in the blind community and has<br />
been breaking down physical barriers ever since he<br />
first rode an Aprilla Falco 1000c motorbike at more<br />
than 89mph back in 2001! He has since switched his<br />
attention to four wheels, smashing multiple landspeed<br />
records and eventually becoming the first blind<br />
person to break the 200mph barrier in 2014.<br />
Mike’s story resonated a lot with me. Growing up<br />
he always dreamt of becoming a racing driver,<br />
much in the same way I spent my whole childhood<br />
dreaming of racing. Fate would have it that Mike’s<br />
blindness presented a massive physical barrier to him<br />
achieving that goal, but Mike’s story is one of sheer<br />
determination against impossible odds.<br />
What he has achieved in the last 15 years is nothing<br />
short of awe-inspiring and whether he intended to<br />
be or not he has become a hero and a pioneer for<br />
the blind and disabled community as a whole. The<br />
next stage in Mike’s adventure was to find a way to<br />
give back and create opportunities for the blind and<br />
disabled to do what they never thought was possible.<br />
In 2012 Mike founded a charity called Speed of<br />
Sight alongside John Galloway. An organisation<br />
65
committed to the opportunity for all, Speed of Sight<br />
hosts driving experience days for adults and children<br />
with disabilities and their families and friends,<br />
inspiring self-confidence, social interaction, physical<br />
and mental wellbeing throughout the UK.<br />
When Mike questions the many blind or disabled<br />
people he meets during speaking and sponsor events<br />
about what they would love to do if they were able<br />
to, the ability to drive a car is always near top of the<br />
list.<br />
To drive a car is a luxury that I guarantee most of us<br />
take for granted, but take that privilege away and you<br />
lose much; much more than just the ability to drive.<br />
For starters, you lose freedom and independence<br />
to travel, to meet people or do things whenever,<br />
wherever you want. That feeling of Isolation from<br />
the general community has some pretty serious<br />
knock-on effects such as low self-esteem, depression<br />
and anxiety which of course can spiral out of control<br />
if you don’t have a strong support system around<br />
you.<br />
Speed Of Sight’s mission is to create<br />
opportunities for people with any<br />
disability to drive. The team currently<br />
has three custom-built dual-control<br />
cars - two race cars and one offroad<br />
buggy. The cars, named after<br />
Mike’s guide dogs, are specially<br />
designed with dual controls and<br />
twin steering wheels. An instructor<br />
will always sit alongside the driver,<br />
but essentially the driver is fully in<br />
control at all times and the instructor<br />
only intervenes to help steer back<br />
on course if needed.<br />
The remarkable thing<br />
about the Speed of Sight<br />
experience is that it is<br />
built on communication<br />
and trust on a much<br />
deeper level. The<br />
instructor needs to have<br />
trust in the driver to listen<br />
to instructions and of<br />
course the driver needs to<br />
have complete faith in the<br />
instructions given to him!<br />
Speed of Sight<br />
experience days take<br />
place countrywide at<br />
racing circuits, off road<br />
tracks or any venue with<br />
a large enough car park<br />
or area where a circuit can be created. In addition<br />
to their own program, I am looking into ways that<br />
Velocity Track Days, the company I co-own, can<br />
help boost their fundraising efforts, so watch this<br />
space!<br />
The great work that Speed of Sight does would not<br />
be possible without the generosity of volunteers<br />
giving their time, sponsors pitching in free products<br />
or corporations giving money to keep their wheels<br />
in motion. If you know someone who could benefit<br />
from an experience or if you want to help out in<br />
any way please check out www.SpeedofSight.org for<br />
more information.<br />
A Speed of Sight experience has helped change<br />
hundreds of lives already. They give people the<br />
chance to dream, expose their senses to the sound<br />
of a roaring engine and smell of burning rubber,<br />
and for 15 whole minutes, a sense of a life without<br />
limitations.<br />
SPEED OF SIGHT’S MISSION IS<br />
TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR<br />
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO DRIVE<br />
MIKE NEWMAN FOUNDED<br />
CHARITY SPEED OF SIGHT<br />
66
TRACK DAYS<br />
REDEFINED<br />
Velocity is a new breed of track day company offering the chance to race real racing cars on the UK’s finest<br />
circuits, tutored by Le Mans Winner Martin Plowman and BTCC and Emmerdale Star Kelvin Fletcher.<br />
There’s no better way to engage with clients or reward loyal teams. Choose from one of our great packages<br />
or let us build you a bespoke day.<br />
GET IN TOUCH TODAY AND LET US BUILD<br />
THE PERFECT EXPERIENCE<br />
www.velocitytrackdays.co.uk 0115 888 3288 info@velocitytrackdays.co.uk